SIOC Packaging: A Guide To Shipping in Own Container

Have you ever received your shipment in its original packaging? You must be wondering if the shipper has forgotten to deliver it in a plain brown or cardboard box. Being in the e-commerce industry, it is very common to deliver the products to customers in their actual packaging intentionally. This is a direct-to-consumer method used by many e-commerce brands and encouraged by one of the most popular e-commerce platforms Amazon.

Amazon offers multiple shipping programs including FFP, SIOC, and PFP. Among these programs, SIOC is one in which products are directly shipped to customers without any additional or extra required boxes.

Adopting SIOC is good for those e-commerce businesses who want to deliver their products through Amazon in their original packaging form, enhancing their brand visibility, lowering their shipping cost, and showing commitment to sustainability. From this guide, let's learn how SIOC packaging is a good fit in the e-commerce industry.

What Is SIOC Packaging

SIOC known as Ship in Own Container is an efficient packaging solution designed to reduce packaging waste and optimize logistics by packing products in its own packaging as a shipping container. This packaging is particularly used in the e-commerce industry to improve sustainability and reduce shipping costs in the supply chain. Using this packaging, products are shipped to customers directly in their original packaging without any additional outer boxes or packaging material.

What Are Amazon SIOC Packaging Requirements

There are some regulations set by Amazon for SIOC packaging that need to be followed to deliver products. Sellers must adhere to these requirements when they are shipping their products to fulfillment centers.

According to Amazon SIOC packaging guidelines, a package weighing more than 20 pounds or a minimum measuring 6 x 4 x 0.375 inches or a maximum of 18 x 14 x 6 inches requires certification of an Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN) as FFP or SIOC.

These dimensions are requirements for a package however if a package is smaller on any side is exempt from SIOC certification requirements.

Some SIOC Packaging Examples For Your Understanding

Many products are shipped and delivered in their original packaging form. An example of small electronic items like coffee makers, toasters, and blenders often come in sturdy cardboard boxes that can withstand the rigors of shipping. Another example of SIOC packaging is the toothpaste that comes in a collapsible plastic tube placed inside a six-sided rectangular-shaped cardboard box providing protection.

Cereal boxes, toner cartridges, books, shoe boxes, DVDs, and Blue Rays are some of the examples before us. Such examples of product packaging delivered in their actual packaging help in reducing packaging waste and cost for both sellers and Amazon. Fragile, hazardous, or leakable items do not come in SIOC packaging as they do not meet the Amazon SIOC packaging requirements of sizes and shapes.

Retail Packaging VS SIOC Packaging - A Brief Comparison

Both retail packaging and SIOC packaging differ from each other. Usually, retail box packaging is designed with multiple layers of paperboard containing inserts or dividers to protect your products. These retail boxes provide information about the products and build a brand reputation aiming to capture customers’ attention to influence a purchase at a physical store.

On the other hand, SIOC packaging is the opposite because it contains limited space with information displayed on the box packaging using labels and directly delivered to customers to minimize packaging costs and reduce waste.

Here if a question comes like can factory provide SIOC packaging? Yes, factories and businesses can take advantage of Amazon SIOC packaging to reduce excessive packaging materials and ship their products directly to customers. This can help them save their packaging cost while showing their positive gesture in caring for the environment.

Know The Essential Benefits Of SIOC Packaging

There are many advantages of SIOC packaging. Let’s discover what they are:

Eco-Friendly:

Made with sustainable and recyclable material helps to reduce carbon footprints and minimize waste. Businesses can reuse existing containers to contribute to a greener future.

Cost-Efficient:

SIOC packaging cuts the overhead packaging cost by optimizing packaging design and eliminating excessive materials that are often used in traditional packaging.

Improved Customer Experience:

Brings convenience to eco-conscious customers allowing them to enjoy a hassle-free and memorable unboxing experience while having a sustainable packaging practice.

Builds Brand Image and Loyalty:

Helps businesses and brands to show their loyalty and commitment to green and innovation to entice environmentally conscious customers and enhance a brand reputation.

How Can SIOC Packaging Can Work If You Are Not On Amazon

Interested in SIOC packaging and worried about not being on Amazon? Don’t worry. You don’t need any certification or sell on Amazon, there is still an opportunity to ship your products to your customers directly. The solution is explained here.

Following the SIOC packaging model, many direct-to-consumer (DTC) businesses are associated with 3PL (Third-party Logistics) like DHL, FedEx, UPS, and ShipMonk to offer brand-focused, cost-efficient, and sustainable packaging solutions.

Before partnering with a 3PL, choose the right material for the well-structured shipping box to withstand any damage during shipping. Further, the box should be snuggly fit to restrict the movement of products inside the box. For this, you can extra materials like bubble wrap or airbags to avoid any damage and extra protection.

Besides this, implement a packaging control to retain the packaging standards so that customers receive the same package as it was delivered.

Conclusion

Online shopping has set a new standard in this modern age to directly and safely ship products to customers. Fulfilling massive orders of over 1.6 million per day, Amazon, the leading platform in the e-commerce industry introduced SIOC packaging to deliver packaging boxes to customers securely. If you want shipping boxes for your product packaging, head over to Custom Product Packaging where you can find the ultimate custom packaging solutions meeting e-commerce standards. Our customer care is available 24/7 for your help. You can share your requirements at our order@customproductpackaging.com. Get in touch with us today!