{"id":1176,"date":"2020-12-01T21:19:56","date_gmt":"2020-12-01T21:19:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/sioc-packaging\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T21:03:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T21:03:27","slug":"sioc-packaging","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/sioc-packaging\/","title":{"rendered":"What is SIOC Packaging? Amazon\u2019s Packaging for Less Waste and Lower Costs + the Benefits for All Ecommerce Orders"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Table of Contents<\/p>

** Minutes<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

What is SIOC Packaging?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why online shops prefer SIOC packaging<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much could your business save with SIOC packaging?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not on Amazon? Your business can still use SIOC packaging!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get a packaging, shipping, and logistics partner all in one<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIOC packaging FAQs<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever received a shipment that was delivered in its actual packaging and not a plain brown box?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shipper didn\u2019t forget to throw the item in a box; This was done intentionally to reduce packaging used. And this it\u2019s pretty common with ecommerce shipping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Direct-to-consumer brands of all sizes use this packaging method, but there is one company that is most known for encouraging it: Amazon. In fact, they\u2019ve created multiple programs dedicated to this concept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The purpose of Amazon\u2019s frustration-free packaging (FFP) program is to enhance, simplify, and improve packaging processes. The program consists of packages to be designed, tested, and certified to qualify for one of the three tiers of <\/span>ecommerce packaging<\/span><\/a>: FFP, SIOC, or PFP. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Tier 1 FFP product packages are recyclable and open easily, Tier 2 SIOC packaged products ship to the customer in their original packaging without additional packaging or boxing required. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adopting SIOC packaging is a great option for business owners who ship their products through Amazon but want more control over how their orders are packaged, as well as other brands that want to use the SIOC packaging model to lower packaging costs and increase sustainability. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, you\u2019ll learn what SIOC packaging is, what\u2019s required, and how you can adapt an SIOC packaging without needing to fulfil orders through Amazon. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is SIOC Packaging?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

SIOC stands for \u201cships in own container\u201d and is a form of product packaging in which a product ordered can be shipped to the customer in its original packaging, without any additional packaging required such as an overbox. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To approve for SIOC with Amazon, the seller will need to get original product packaging tested to obtain ISTA 6 certification<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are eight different sets of standards that the packaging must meet based on weight, size, and delivery method. These tests can include preconditioning, drop testing (e.g., free-fall drop, drops onto hazards, and rotational drops), impact testing, and compression testing. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why online shops prefer SIOC packaging<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While Amazon\u2019s enormous presence in the ecommerce industry was largely responsible for the inception and rise of SIOC packaging, ecommerce business owners also independently recognise that there are many perks to adopting the SIOC model, whether or not they sell and ship products through Amazon. Here are the top benefits of SIOC packaging.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. More sustainable packaging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Amazon\u2019s SIOC packaging program reduces excess packaging materials and proves to be more sustainable than most other packaging models \u2014 especially considering the thousands of packages processed by Amazon daily. Given the ecommerce industry\u2019s continued growth, SIOC packaging is a cost-effective way for socially-conscious businesses to implement <\/span>eco-friendly packaging<\/span><\/a> by reducing waste. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Lower packaging costs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In complying with SIOC packaging requirements, your products will be shipped by using less <\/span>dunnage<\/span><\/a> and other packaging materials, which means you don\u2019t have to pay extra for materials like air pillows and kraft paper or an overbox. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note: Some products might qualify for the SIOC packaging but still require additional packaging material. For instance, if you\u2019re shipping a high-value product through Amazon that\u2019s greater than $400, then it might require additional boxing to prevent theft. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Better customer experiences<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The primary goal of SIOC is to ensure that the package is delivered in the best condition possible and the items in the package are free of damage. Not only do SIOC guidelines and testing help to ensure damage-free delivery without the need of additional packaging, they also may enhance the <\/span>unboxing experience<\/span><\/a> by simplifying it for the customer. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using SIOC packaging, you can also enhance your brand\u2019s image by eliminating the Amazon-branded box and keeping your own custom packaging<\/a> uncovered. This can lead to a great first impression and a big step towards driving <\/span>brand loyalty<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much could your business save with SIOC packaging?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Without pausing to consider alternative packaging models, many businesses end up spending far more on packaging than is needed \u2014 most notably by shipping pre-packaged products in corrugated boxes or <\/span>poly mailers<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To <\/span>ship fragile items<\/span><\/a> like jewelry, cosmetics, and glassware, using extra packaging materials is a must to ensure a safe delivery. But for many types of products \u2014 like apparel or even more durable items such as work boots<\/a> \u2014 \u201cdouble wrapping\u201d in more than one box isn\u2019t always necessary and can quickly increase shipping costs. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIOC packaging, on the other hand, enables the original product packaging to serve as the primary shipping container for the product, meaning that adopting SIOC packaging can essentially eliminate half of your packaging costs immediately, simultaneously saving you thousands of dollars and drastically reducing the amount of packaging waste your company uses.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not on Amazon? Your business can still use SIOC packaging!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your business doesn\u2019t have to ship with Amazon<\/a> to follow their SIOC packaging model. Many <\/span>direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands<\/span><\/a> partner with a <\/span>third-party logistics<\/span><\/a> (3PL) like ShipBob to provide cost-effective, brand-focused, and sustainable packaging<\/a> options.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ShipBob offers SIOC packaging where the package\u2019s design makes it possible for it to be shipped to the customer in the same packaging it arrived at ShipBob in. (Note: If multiple SIOC items are part of the same order, the final box type will depend on the discretion of our fulfilment associates. Click here<\/a> for more information.) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ShipBob also partners with leading custom packaging solutions that can help you create branded SIOC packaging that\u2019s durable enough to deliver items safely. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get a packaging, shipping, and logistics partner all in one<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At ShipBob, we partner with fast-growing brands to help <\/span>optimise their supply chain<\/span><\/a> with proprietary technology that powers our entire fulfilment network. With our international fulfilment<\/a> locations and fully-owned tech stack, we provide a transparent and powerful logistics solution along with consistent, accurate fulfilment services.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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