Can packaging really ruin Christmas?

Amazon just can’t seem to get their packaging quite right, and it’s no wonder really, with over 480 million different products to pack and an average of over 608 million packages to ship each year . . .

Although a very active organisation in trying to improve their carbon foot print, the retail giant has come under fire in recent years for packing small items in needlessly large boxes, but now the tables have turned, they are in the spotlight in the run up to this Christmas for using too little packaging!

Amazon work with manufacturers to box products in Certified “Frustration-Free Packaging”, which reduces the overall amount of packing material used. Amazon have claimed that their sustainable packaging initiatives have, to date, eliminated 181,000 tons of packaging material and 307 million shipping boxes, which is pretty remarkable.

However, Amazon’s packaging approach, seems to have caused quite a stir and they have come under fire on social media for not using enough or in some cases, any packaging at all.  Christmas presents are not being delivered in the usual brown Amazon box, but instead with just a delivery note attached to the original manufacturers packaging.  It has been reported that one customer was ‘Absolutely fuming’ after the person who was meant to receive the item as a present, saw what it was upon delivery.  She then went on to accuse the company of ‘ruining Christmas’.  It seems this lady is not alone, as we see images of Amazon’s lack of packaging shared across social media.

On Amazon’s website they state that their certified Frustration-Free Packages are recyclable and come without excess packaging materials.  The product inside is the same, and everything included in the Certified Frustration-Free Packaging is what would have been in the original, manufacturer’s packaging.

The website also states that these packages are usually dispatched directly to the consumer, in the original packaging, and to keep the contents of the packaging a surprise, a gift option can be selected during the checkout.

We understand Amazon’s struggle, as will many product manufacturers and online retailers.  If you need help to streamline your packaging, please get in touch with us.  We will be happy to visit or call you for a full packaging consultation.