It is a fact that during the last 25 years e-commerce has flourished and grown. However, the sharp increase in the number of consumers ordering products online means that e-commerce in the future will require holistic, flexible and circular packaging solutions.
The fact is that during the pandemic there was a boom in e-commerce as prolonged lockdowns and restricted access to physical stores accelerated consumers’ familiarity with online shopping and forced them to turn to e-commerce to meet their consumption needs. At the same time, online delivery food has emerged as one of the largest and most important sectors of the e-market.
Yet another trend in the future of e-commerce that we have seen especially in the last 3 years is that industrial goods have also started to be sold online more often. Technological equipment, building materials and even automotive products are now sold online.
The new era of e-commerce
This new reality has led most e-shops worldwide to develop new packaging solutions that perform better in specific storage and distribution channels in order to meet the volume of orders and the changes in the supply chain. Materials with lower weight were used allowing however the same, – if not increased – performance in the supply chain, while changes were also made in production processes to improve sustainability and reduce their environmental footprint. Yet another parameter that companies and e-shops had to revisit was security. Consumers should receive products that were not somehow damaged during transport. This is why especially in e-commerce, where products go through various transport stages, packaging is of paramount importance. It should be guaranteed that the product is protected and that it will be delivered in its original condition. The product should also be ergonomic for easy handling by the shipping company.
Customer experience & unboxing culture
Also, many companies – from giants to SMEs – in order to strengthen their brand image, have redefined their packaging in order to offer a complete packaging experience to consumers. More and more businesses have recognized the importance of packaging in enhancing their brand reputation and are now looking for quality and unique options to help them stand out from the competition. At the same time, the unboxing culture that has developed through social media has made it even more imperative for packaging to have an attractive design, but also replicate brand identity. Businesses will take advantage of all kinds of third-party exposure in order to attract new clients.
The future of e-commerce is green
Environmental protection is not just a trend that will go away. People are making active purchasing decisions based on how environmental friendly companies are and this is why more and more businesses choose sustainable packaging that either decomposes or is recycled into different materials. It is no coincidence that, according to a Harvard Business Review survey, 65% of shoppers choose to buy from brands that support sustainability. Already, leading e-commerce platform Amazon has committed to zero carbon emissions by 2040, and to run entirely on renewable energy by 2025.
