E-Commerce Packaging Testing
Why E-Commerce Packaging Matters
Damaged products don’t just cost the product. A broken item at the customer’s door means a return, a replacement, a negative review, and a customer who may not come back. For brands selling through Amazon, FedEx, or Sam’s Club, repeated packaging failures can put platform relationships and seller standing at risk. Testing packaging before it ships is cheaper than managing the fallout after it doesn’t.
Packaging Testing & Validation Services
Distribution Package Testing
ISTA and ASTM distribution testing for parcel delivery packaging, covering the drop, vibration, compression, and shock hazards packages face through last-mile carrier distribution.
Returns are the visible cost. Trust is the one that compounds.
What We Test for E-Commerce Brands
Parcel delivery performance
Every parcel that ships direct to a customer faces drop, vibration, compression, and conveyor impacts. ISTA 3A is the baseline test retailers and carriers accept, and passing it reduces in-transit damage and returns.
Applicable Standards and Methods
Amazon program certification (SIOC, FFP, PFP, Over Boxing)
Amazon requires packaging for its four programs to be tested at an APASS-certified lab using ISTA 6 procedures. TEN-E performs all four and issues reports Amazon accepts.
Applicable Standards and Methods
Right-sizing and corrugated strength
Right-sized cartons cut dimensional-weight shipping costs, and box compression confirms the lighter design still protects the product through stacking and transit.
Applicable Standards and Methods
Sustainable and recyclable packaging validation
Curbside-recyclable, mono-material, and reduced-material designs still have to pass distribution performance before rollout. Testing confirms an eco-friendly redesign holds up.
Applicable Standards and Methods
FedEx and Sam's Club program packaging
Brands shipping through FedEx or selling into Sam's Club qualify packaging to the applicable ISTA 6 member performance test for each program's distribution environment.
Applicable Standards and Methods
Drop and fragility assessment
Before committing to a full distribution test, a drop and fragility assessment sizes the protective packaging a new product needs, avoiding both over-packing cost and under-packing damage.
Applicable Standards and Methods
Accreditations That Apply
Our accreditations determine which standards we test to, which regulatory submissions our results support, and which retailer programs our clients can qualify for.
Our Accreditations
ANAB ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation
ISTA Certified Laboratory
Frequently Asked Questions
APASS stands for Amazon Packaging Support and Supplier Network. Amazon requires that test reports submitted through Vendor Central or Seller Central for packaging certification programs come from an APASS-certified laboratory. Amazon accepts certification test reports for SIOC, FFP, PFP, and OB programs only from APASS-certified laboratories. TEN-E holds APASS certification and performs all four Amazon program tests. For Amazon testing inquiries, contact apass@ten-e.com.
The applicable program depends on your packaging configuration and how it moves through Amazon’s fulfillment network. SIOC applies when a product ships in its retail packaging with no Amazon outer box. FFP adds easy-open and recyclability requirements on top of the SIOC performance standard. PFP applies when packaging requires no additional preparation steps at Amazon fulfillment centers. Over Boxing applies when a product ships inside an Amazon outer box. Many brands qualify for more than one program. Contact us at apass@ten-e.com with your product details and we’ll confirm which programs apply.
ISTA 3A and Amazon ISTA 6 procedures address different distribution scenarios. ISTA 3A validates parcel delivery packaging performance for general parcel carrier distribution. Amazon ISTA 6 procedures are specific to Amazon’s fulfillment environment. If your product ships through Amazon and other retail or carrier channels, both types of testing may apply depending on the requirements of each channel. TEN-E can confirm the applicable procedures for your full distribution profile and run both test types in a single lab program.
Amazon packaging certification applies to a specific packaging design. When a packaging design changes, the certification needs to be reassessed. Amazon also periodically updates its program requirements, which may require recertification of existing packaging designs when requirements change. TEN-E recommends confirming current Amazon program requirements before submitting for any certification program and reaching out to apass@ten-e.com with questions about recertification triggers.
Ready to get your packaging tested?
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