Every brand wants to crack the formula to thrive online. Assortment and profitability are important, but having the right product packaging is a major part of a winning e-com strategy. However, that’s easier said than done. Regulations keep changing, omnichannel requirements are diverse and everyone seems to be moving in different directions. It can be hard to tell which way is up.

Inspired by this messy environment and driven by a spirit of collaboration, a group of e-commerce pioneers came together to make this daunting process “easy-peasy” or in their own play on words, “ECPC.”

The E-Commerce Packaging Council (or ECPC, pun intended) was founded in August 2019 based on the belief that there is a better way forward for e-commerce packaging. By collaborating to share company insights and uniting industry influence, the ECPC founders believe they can bring about clarity and positive change—together. The E-Com Packaging Council is a collection of minds meeting multiple times a year to discuss pitfalls, trends, opportunities, and better systems to establish and lead in an omnichannel world.

Upon its unveiling in 2019, ECPC membership grew within a month from the three original founding companies (FUSENEO, Johnson & Johnson and L’Oréal) to over 40 member companies that span the beauty, food, hard goods, pharma, electronics, houseware industries and more.

Kicking off at last year’s E-Pack Summit in Seattle, Washington was the perfect setting to make the announcement of the four founders uniting to bring about change to e-commerce packaging.

Their October kick-off was followed by the first in-person meeting in Chicago days before the pandemic hit in March 2020. The attending companies were able to discuss face-to-face with ISTA members about opportunities and challenges with current testing methodologies as well as how the future of transportation standards may influence the way we validate e-com packaging. The climax of the meeting came when attendees (live and online) were able to virtually tour an Amazon distribution center and discuss packaging challenges with an Amazon packaging expert in real time.

With the pandemic forcing the entire industry to rethink the way we approach meetings, the ECPC has progressed its methods of connection and created a series entitled “ECPC Express Sessions.” The first of these virtual sessions was held in July of this year where member companies shared the struggles (and/or successes) that the pandemic has brought to their respective businesses and how they evolved behaviors and development processes to succeed in e-commerce.

During the second express session this past September, the council came together virtually as three of the member companies brought their own challenges with their e-commerce experience. The council learned how e-commerce packaging is approached in different industries, and shared potential solutions based on other members’ experiences in the space.

The ECPC does not want to stop here. The vision is to continue the “ECPC Express” virtual connection sessions focused on engaging and partnering with more omnichannel retailers, bringing sustainability to the discussions, and shaping the future of e-commerce packaging. Ultimately, the ECPC mission is to achieve 100% transparent collaboration and communication across the industry to raise the standards of e-commerce packaging and deliver delightful unboxing experiences to online consumers.

If you are interested in joining, please inquire at www.fuseneo.com/ecpc. 

About the Author

Laszlo Moharita is Head of Global R&D E-Commerce and New Business Initiatives, Johnson & Johnson; a founding member of ECPC; and a member of Beauty Packaging’s Board of Advisors.