Last week we saw how evolving shopping habits are reinforcing the growth of eCommerce, a trend that has been growing since before the pandemic.
Is it possible to think about online shopping without considering Amazon? Probably not. Suffice it to say how the eCommerce giant has a conversion rate of 13 percent, about seven times higher than the market average1.
People want to research and compare products easily as well as receive them at home, undamaged, in a short time. Proper packaging, performance and eco-sustainable as cushionPaper™, contributes significantly not only to the protection of products during transportation but also to the perception of brand quality, in the eyes of the customer. Learn more about cushionPaper™ in the next article.
ISTA Testing – International Safe Transit Association
ISTA is the global organization focused on transport packaging that defines the testing protocols for certifying different types of packaging, verifying their resistance to any medium and transit conditions. ISTA certification guarantees:
- Compliance of your packaging with international testing protocols thanks to the ISTA mark
- Lower time-to-market for your products, thanks in part to the growth of eCommerce
- Packaging resistance to shock, vibration, compression and extreme weather conditions
- increased customer satisfaction
For full details on ISTA testing procedures, find out about the Grifal Certified Laboratory.
Why APASS is important – Amazon Packaging Support and Supplier Network
The first Italian company to join, Grifal is a member of theAmazon Packaging Support and Supplier Network: thenetwork composed of more than 30 companies on a global scale that meet the most stringent requirements for design, supply and certification of e-commerce packaging.
APASS was developed to help manufacturers and vendors certify their products as Prep Free Packaging (PFP), Ships in Own Container (SIOC) and Frustration Free Packaging (FFP)which we will look at more specifically in a moment. Amazon then provides a list of companies and laboratories that can help design, manufacture and test packaging in line with its certifications.
As certified experts in the specifics of Amazon’s packaging regulations, APASS members can answer any questions you may have about, for example, the care of products shipped from your eCommerce. To support the performance of your products and online sales, you can rely on Grifal’s experience and expertise:
- Avoids penalties for packaging that is not certified or does not meet quality protocols
- you have immediate access to integrated consulting, from custom packaging design to testing procedures
What are the three levels of certification of Amazon’s package?
The first level of certification is Frustration Free Packaging (“FFP“), the second is Ships In Own Container (“SIOC“) while the third is Prep-Free Packaging (” PFP “). By meeting these packaging standards, sellers on Amazon will significantly reduce the cost and time of registering new products. Let’s look at them in detail:
| Requirements: | Liv. 1 FFP | Liv. 2 SIOC | Liv. 3 PFP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damage protectionCompliant withISTA 6 testNo Amazon preparation required | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Designed to reduce wasteShippingwithout extra Amazon packaging | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Recyclable packaging | ✔ | ||
| Proportion between product and packaging | ✔ | ||
| Ease of opening | ✔ |