E-Commerce Package Testing
As e-commerce continues to grow, packaging continues to play an increasingly key role in the customer experience. E-Commerce package testing methods and solutions protect shipments across a wide range of industries and products, including Consumer Goods, Biotechnology Companies, HVAC Systems, Pharmaceutical Research, and more. Advancements in thermal packaging solutions, such as temperature assurance packaging, are designed to safely transport temperature sensitive products, including pharmaceuticals like flu vaccines, blood plasma, and other biological products.
What is E-Commerce Package Testing?
E-Commerce package testing has evolved and risen significantly, presenting online retailers with new challenges as their packaged products are transported to their end destination. Package testing and validation protocols are critical to finding weaknesses, addressing supply chain issues, and reducing damages incurred through transit. Whether products are sold directly to the consumer or through a third-party platform or vendor, finding and simulating the shipping environment hazards products face in route to the customer can ensure that the proper packaging is in place to withstand the demands faced in distribution.
How To Test Your Packaged Product By E-Commerce Testing Protocol
The International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) is a member led organization committed to creating a world-class data repository to better model distribution locally, nationally, and internationally. Developing procedures and protocols, according to which packaged products are evaluated and confirmed, ISTA is revered as the certification standard for package testing for distribution. ISTA’s Testing Protocol is still a series of testing methodologies well recognized within the packaging community, including prominent e-commerce retailer Amazon.com.
Select Procedures Focused on E-Commerce
- Type A - Parcel delivery of individual packaged-products, standard handling method, less than 50lbs, and girth equal or less than 165”
- Type B - Parcel delivery of individual packaged-products, standard handling method, 50 lbs to less than 100 lbs, and girth equal to or less than 165”
- Type C - Parcel delivery of individual packaged-products, standard handling method, 100 lbs or greater, and girth equal to or less than 165”
- Type D - Less-than-truckload (LTL) delivery of individual packaged-products, standard handling method, less than 100 lbs, or girth greater than 165”
- Type E - Less-than-truckload (LTL) delivery of individual packaged-products, standard handling method, 100 lbs or greater, or girth greater than 165”
- Type F - Less-than-truckload (LTL) delivery of individual packaged-products, pallet handling method
- Type G - TV/Monitor, parcel delivery of individual packaged-products, standard handling method, less than 150 lbs, and girth equal to or less than 165”
- Type H - TV/Monitor, less-than-truckload (LTL) delivery or individual packaged-products, standard-handling method, 150 lbs or greater, or girth greater than 165”
Amazon E-Commerce Package Testing
- Frustration Free Packaging (FFP) is the first tier of Amazon’s packaging certification and provides packaging that is designed with our customers and environmental footprint in mind. FFP certified packaging is capable of shipping in its own container in minimized and fully recyclable, easy-to-open packaging.
- Ships in Own Container (SIOC) is the second tier of Amazon’s packaging certification and minimizes waste by ensuring the packaging is designed to ship without the need for an Amazon Over Box. Some products require additional protection using non-recyclable packaging materials, such as foams to ensure minimal damage during shipment.
- Prep-Free Packaging (PFP) is the third tier of Amazon’s packaging certification and is designed for items not capable of shipping in their own container (i.e. liquid product that is not six sided), which require an Amazon Over Box. A certified PFP package is designed to ship effectively without the need for Amazon to apply additional prep to prevent damage of leakage.
E-Commerce Packaging Design
Why Purple Diamond for E-Commerce Package Testing?
Purple Diamond is an official participant in the Amazon Packaging Support and Supplier Network (APASS). The APASS program was designed by Amazon to help support vendors, sellers, and manufacturers in obtaining certification of their products as Frustration Free Packaging (FFP), Ships in Own Container (SIOC), or Prep-Free Packaging (PFP). We provide APASS services directly to vendors, sellers, or manufacturers related to package testing in compliance with Amazon’s certification test methods and packaging design to follow Amazon’s packaging guidelines.
Purple Diamond works in compliance with ISTA standards to evaluate your packaged products. Our team is committed to delivering high-quality results as we develop a comprehensive solution to your specific package testing needs. Considering the e-commerce packaging industry is booming, and is showing no signs of stopping, you should reach out to us. We are happy to form a long-term relationship with you and your business to be your sounding board as far as anything packaging goes, especially e-commerce if that is where your needs lie. Thank you for reading down this far and don’t forget that we do offer facility tours so folks can get familiar with the place. We also offer complimentary first consultation for folks just getting started with a boat load of questions. We’re here to help anyway that we can! Just reach out to us.
Related Testing Standards
- ASTM D642
- ASTM D685
- ASTM D880
- ASTM D951
- ASTM D999
- ASTM D3078
- ASTM D3103
- ASTM D3285
- ASTM D4169
- ASTM D4332
- ASTM D4728
- ASTM D5265
- ASTM D5276
- ASTM D5277
- ASTM D5487
- ASTM D6055
- ASTM D6179
- ASTM D6344
- ASTM D6653
- ASTM D7386
- ASTM F88
- ASTM F1140
- ASTM F1886
- ASTM F1929
- ASTM F1980
- ASTM F2096
- ASTM F2250
- ASTM F3039
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Accreditations
Affiliations
The APASS program was designed by Amazon to help support vendors, sellers, and manufacturers in obtaining certification of their products as Frustration Free Packaging (FFP), Ships in Own Container (SIOC), or Prep-Free Packaging (PFP).
At Purple Diamond, we offer a free consultation or a guided tour of our facilities. If you’re nearby, feel free to drop by and see our packaging and team. Consultations can be done over the phone or on zoom, so choose what suits you best. To get in touch, go to our Contact Us page and fill out the form or book an appointment using the calendar below. Our goal is to assist you in any way possible, so please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our website contact form is located at www.purple-diamond.com/contact-us, but we promise to get back to you soon, no matter which method of communication you choose.
