SGS Opens New Labs in France, India and USA – Expanding Global Network of ISTA Labs Offering 6-Amazon Certification Testing

SGS, an inspection, verification, testing and certification company, has expanded its global network of International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) accredited packaging test laboratories – with the opening of three new labs in Cestas (Bordeaux, France); Manesar (Delhi, India) and Appleton, Wisc.  The network offers the full suite of ISTA test procedures – including ISTA 6-Amazon, the new Amazon packaging certification standard.

Amazon’s new Frustration-Free Packaging (FFP) Certification standard requires that all packaging is easy to open, designed to be recycled and able to protect products from damage throughout the supply chain without the need for additional packaging or preparation by Amazon. In February 2020, Amazon introduced chargeback fees of $1.99 (€1.70 in Europe) per unit which may be charged to companies whose packaging fails to meet the standard.

“We welcome Amazon’s ambition to reduce waste, reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction through its packaging standards, and have been working hard to expand our ISTA accredited laboratory network,” said John O’Connell, Global Packaging Director. “We want to make it easier for manufacturers and retailers to take the steps needed to gain certification and reduce their organizational risk and costs.”

Package testing standards

ISTA’s standardized transit package testing establishes both performance and development test methods:

• Performance Testing – simulates distribution hazards to determine if a packaged product can survive normal shipment stressors
• Development Testing – assesses the general quality of packaging design while comparing packaging systems and creating a benchmarking tool

Additionally, SGS can perform package testing to meet one or more of the three tiers of the ISTA 6-Amazon tests:

• Frustration-free Packaging (FFP)
• Ships in its Own Container (SIOC), and
• Prep-free Packaging (PFP)

Furthermore, SGS is a leading member of the Amazon Packaging Support and Supplier Network (APASS).

“Our Amazon packaging experts are best placed to evaluate your packaging needs and guide you through Amazon’s Frustration Free Packaging Certification process,” added O’Connell. “They can also help determine the best certification and most efficient path for your products and recommend options to reduce costs and unnecessary waste while improving sustainability and customer experience.”

For more information, visit www.sgs.com/packaging.