Raising the Bar for the Global Ecommerce Packaging Market

The world of ecommerce is big, and it’s inarguably growing. Researchers recently predicted that the global ecommerce packaging market will reach USD 61.55 billion by 2025. As more shoppers gravitate toward the convenience of online shopping, it’s possible these  estimations will reach even higher numbers than expected.

Responding to the shift, retail outlets are increasingly venturing into the ecommerce space. This upswing in online sales has brought increased demand in the ecommerce packaging market as well. TheAsian Pacific region is expected to hold the largest share, as it witnesses a rapid increase in retail ecommerce growth due to the rising middle class in China, India and Indonesia. Notably, China alone accounts for 40% of the world’s retail ecommerce sales in recent years. 

As ecommerce gains prominence, packaging manufacturers must adapt or risk being side-lined.  

Ecommerce packaging typically consists of a box made out of carton and cushioning materials, such as air pillows or bubble packaging to prevent spillage or damage to the goods. These parcels are handled up to 20 times more on their journey to a consumer than traditional in-store packaging. This is due to the fact that ecommerce packages typically pass from the manufacturer, warehouse, fulfilment centre and shipment facilities before reaching the customer.

To ensure that the consumer’s purchase arrives intact and in working order, the packaging must perform a variety of crucial tasks. The packaging must prevent the purchased goods from  incurring damage or spillage within the box. It is also critical that the packaging is durable enough to withstand rough handling, to avoid potential supply chain disruption.

In order to keep up with the fast-moving landscape and the heightened demands that the ecommerce supply chain poses, manufacturers can turn to automated packaging systems for ecommerce packaging. Putting such systems in place significantly improves production speed.

Automated packaging systems can multitask and fold multiple steps of the packaging process —like sealing and labelling—into one single step. These technologies can both increase production speeds and allow packaging companies to redeploy their staff to higher value tasks such as shipping, receiving, and picking. At the same time, automated systems also improve the consistency of packaging and helps reduce human error during the packaging process.

Repetitive or tedious tasks can be easily performed by automated packaging systems. By using such technologies to manage processes that demand highly repetitive motions, it’s possible to both increase productivity and reduce the risk of injury to workers.

With automated packaging, every package is well-protected through a standardized packing process, even when each package has a custom-tailored packaging design and shape. Automated packaging systems can also set an amount of packaging per product to be calculated and provisioned easily. Not only does this option reduce waste, it enables businesses to save on packaging costs and avoid over-ordering various materials.

Using the right hot melt adhesive improves the handling of packaging within the manufacturing process. Because hot melt adhesive works well with the high speeds of packaging machinery, it reduces downtime, streamlines production, and creates efficiencies while decreasing overall packaging costs.

Bostik’s Kizen® is designed for easy use and features strong bond performance, providing packaging manufacturers with comfort, security and efficiency to meet their specific requirements. The four products under the Kizen line – Kizen FORCE, Kizen ICE and Kizen HEAT and Kizen COOL feature fast set speed, broad processing windows, good thermal stability and adhesion to difficult substrates.

Kizen products are made to reduce adhesive usage in comparison to EVA and metallocenes conventional hot melt technologies. Kizen is comprised of more bio-sourced or renewable materials to lower the usage of fossils. These products also decrease both adhesive consumption and application temperature, reducing energy use by 10 to 30% .

For more information about Bostik’s Kizen®, the next generation of hot melt adhesives for case and carton sealing, visit www.bostik.com/kizen or contact [email protected] today.

You can also view the following relevant blog posts:

• 4 Potential Ecommerce Packaging Changes in an Ecommerce World
• Is Your Ecommerce Packaging Optimized?
• How Consumers Are Driving Hot Melt Adhesive Growth