Wow your customers and stand out from the crowd with these 10 eye-catching and sustainable ecommerce packaging ideas.
The importance of ecommerce packaging
The right ecommerce packaging adds product value and provide important product information. As an ecommerce business, you have limited direct touchpoints with customers as 90% of the customer journey happens online through social media and your website.
Designing an incredible and thoughtful unboxing experience for customers is one of the best tactics to build brand loyalty and a direct connection with your customers. Using the right ecommerce packaging for your products can create a lasting impression of your brand and often customers will share their unboxing experience with their friends and family to help you generate more brand awareness and additional sales.
Why eco-friendly packaging?
Product packaging for ecommerce become an extension of your brand and the principles you stand for. The choices you make about packaging reflect your brand image, your higher purpose and values. Whether you believe it or not, customers will judge your brand from the moment their parcel arrives in the mail.
For example, Miventi, a direct-to-consumer retailer selling sustainable fashion staples, uses simple branded packaging made from recycled mailer boxes and paper inserts. This reinforces Miventi’s brand values and increases customer satisfaction among its target audience of eco-conscious buyers.
As consumers increase their demand for eco-friendly options, more retailers are moving to sustainable solutions to meet that demand. It’s easier than ever before to be a sustainable brand, from manufacturing all the way to final packaging.
Here are 10 creative ideas for your ecommerce packaging:
1. Customised Mailer Boxes
Using mailer boxes made from recycled cardboard is a great way to reduce waste. These boxes are durable, don’t add a lot of weight to packages, and can be customised with your brand’s logo and design.
2. Environmentally friendly notecards
Recyclable paper inserts and notecards made from natural materials are a great way to personalise your brand and share important information with your customers. It’s a great chance to showcase that you’re packaging is eco-friendly and also offer any further promotions with these customers to promote repeat orders.
3. Rigid Paper Mailers
Paper mailers are made from recycled paper materials and are easily recycled. These are a fantastic alternative to plastic poly mailers and are available in various sizes to accommodate different products. At Paper Boss we even offer padded paper mailers and apparel paper mailers specifically designed for clothing.
4. Recycled Paper Tape
Instead of using plastic tape, opt for recycled paper tape. It’s sturdy, easy to use, and can be recycled along with the box it seals. Some paper tapes even have water-activated adhesive, which is even more eco-friendly.
5. Padded Paper Mailers
Similar to rigid paper mailers These packages are best for shipping smaller, delicate items such as jewellery, handcrafted goods, or books. Many of these mailers are made from plastic and contain a cushioned or “bubble” insert. In recent years, more companies have switched to eco-friendly versions made with honeycomb-style paper padding which is a much more environmentally friendly choice.
6. Reusable Tote Bags
Include a reusable tote bag with your branding as part of your packaging. This not only provides extra protection for your products but also gives your customers a useful item they can use repeatedly, reducing single-use plastic bag consumption.
7. Eco-Friendly Ink
Print your packaging with eco-friendly inks made from soy or other natural substances. These inks are less harmful to the environment compared to traditional petroleum-based inks and provide vibrant, high-quality prints.
8. Eco-friendly void fill
We are lucky that there are now a wide variety of eco-friendly void fill options to choose from including honeycomb wrap, recycled tissue paper, recycled kraft paper and paper shred to protect your items during shipping and avoid the unnecessary use of plastic packaging materials.
9. Corrugated Bubble Wrap
Traditional bubble wrap can be replaced with corrugated bubble wrap made from upcycled cardboard. This option provides the same cushioning effect without the plastic waste and is easily recyclable.
10. Eco-Friendly Stickers
Using eco-friendly stickers on a plain box or bag is a versatile and cost-effective alternative to custom-printed packaging. A branded sticker can seal tissue paper or brand the outside of your packaging. You may also want to include a few extra stickers in the package to thank your customers for their purchase.
Create a feel-good unboxing experience for your customers
Eco-friendly ecommerce packaging that reflects your brand’s values and positively impacts the environment can give you the competitive edge to generate repeat customers and attract new ones.
A thoughtful and eco-conscious packaging strategy can create a lasting impression that turns one-time buyers into lifelong brand advocates.
