E-Commerce Package Testing
As e-commerce continues to grow, packaging continues to play an increasingly important role in the customer experience. E-Commerce packaging 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 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 identifying 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, identifying and simulating the shipping environment hazards products face en route to the customer can ensure that the appropriate 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 members 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 tested and validated, ISTA is revered as the certification standard for package testing for distribution. ISTA’s Testing Protocol remains 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 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
Package design that meets the certification requirements of E-Commerce and Amazon Packaging Certification is critical to protecting against damage, reducing or mitigating waste, and improving a package’s overall cosmetic appearance. Packaging construction, markings, and ID label markings can also be designed for custom packaging shipping units. Considerations for evaluating and optimizing over-sized products against E-Commerce and Amazon network standards should also be taken into account when testing and validating packaged products for distribution.
Why Purple Diamond?
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 comply with Amazon’s packaging guidelines.
Purple Diamond works in compliance with ISTA standards to test your packaged products. Our team is committed to delivering high-quality results as we develop a comprehensive solution to your specific package testing needs.
Related Testing Standards
Accreditations
Achieving ISO 17025 Accreditation is the pinnacle in third-party laboratory testing accreditation. It confirms that the facility has management, quality, and technical systems in place to ensure accurate and reliable analyses.
ISTA is revered as the certification standard for package testing for distribution. ISTA’s Testing Protocol remains a series of testing methodologies and standards well recognized within the packaging community.
A select few companies are authorized by PHMSA as an approved third-party packaging testing laboratory in accordance with Hazardous Materials Regulations, critical to ensuring safe transport of dangerous goods.
Affiliations
With over 12,000 standards globally, ASTM International’s fully transparent standards development enhances performance and confidence in consumer choices.
The Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industry’s peer-reviewed standards improve production through operational methods and industry recognized best practices.
