Ever heard of Frustration-Free Packaging on Amazon? Better known by its abbreviation, FFP, the Frustration-Free Packaging initiative is part of Amazon’s efforts to simplify packaging and reduce waste, making it easier for customers to open their products. If you’re an Amazon seller looking to do your business on the FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon) model, this is a term you’ll need to pay attention to.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. What is Frustration Free Packaging?
2. What is Ships in Product Packaging?
3. The 3 Tiers of Packaging Requirements
4. Your FFP Checklist
5. Is FFP for You?
What is Frustration Free Packaging?
Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging (FFP) is a set of guidelines Amazon sellers must adhere to with their product packaging. FFP is not a separate packaging certification; instead, this program’s guidelines are added on top of Ships in Product Packaging (SIPP – formerly known as Ships in Own Container, SIOC) guidelines.
FFP is the highest level of Amazon’s packaging certification program. It is geared towards reducing packaging waste and simplifying the customer unboxing experience, with requirements ranging anywhere from the material of the container, ease of opening, to the secondary packaging that are usually included to protect the goods during transit.
Amazon first rolled out the Frustration Free Packaging program in 2008 to raise packaging standards for select brands. Since that time, the program has grown in scale and is now being extended to more products sold throughout Amazon by both 1P Vendors and 3P Sellers.
So… What is Ships in Product Packaging?
SIPP used to be called SIOC, or Ships in Own Container (we know, Amazon likes to switch up their abbreviations every now and then). This program is available for both Vendors and Sellers, allowing them “the opportunity to test and qualify products to ship to customers in their own custom-brand packaging without any Amazon-added material.” Enrolling in SIPP requires a thorough packaging testing process (either self-test or with Amazon’s third party lab), but sellers can enjoy certain perks such as lower fulfillment fees, more personalized branding messaging to customers, and improved sustainability performance.
UPDATE ON APRIL 25, 2024: The Frustration-Free Packaging program is now officially called the Ships in Product Packaging program. The 3 tiers of the SIPP program remain the same: PFP, SIOC, and FFP.
The 3 Tiers of Packaging Requirements
There are three certification tiers to Amazon’s Frustration-Free Packaging program (now known as Ships in Product Packaging program):
- Tier 1: FFP (Frustration-Free Packaging)
- Tier 2: SIOC (Ships in Own Container)
- Tier 3: PFP (Prep-Free Packaging)
If your product is (a) larger than 18″ x 14″ x 8” and/or (b) weighs 20 lbs or more, it must be designed and certified as Tier 1 (FFP) or Tier 2 (SIOC) within the program. Here are the requirements for each tier:
Your FFP Checklist
Upon earning the SIPP certification, you are now halfway to earning the Frustration-Free Packaging status. On top of meeting all the SIPP guidelines, your packaging must also be compliant with the below requirements:
- Recyclable Packaging: To qualify for Tier 1 (FFP), packages must be made of 100% curbside recyclable materials and be in compliance with all applicable packaging laws in the region of sale. Amazon lists the accepted materials as: “corrugated and other paper-based materials and/or plastic components marked with SPI codes 1 (PET), 2 (HDPE), and 5 (PP).”
Amazon notes that “printing and/or treatments must not affect recyclability of the package.” Plastic bags and twist ties are subject to more specific requirements. Silica gel bags and plastic films that maintain product freshness are permitted. - Easy to Open: According to Amazon, to qualify as easy-to-open “all contents of a package must be removable within 120 seconds” and require minimal use of cutting tools like scissors and/or box cutters. Additionally, packages with “blister packs, plastic inserts, packaging peanuts, shredded paper, or welded clam shells” are prohibited.
- Minimal Packaging: Amazon determines minimal packaging by “Box-Utilization Score,” a number achieved by calculating a product-to-package ratio (or the volume of the product, divided by the total volume of the packaging). The Box-Utilization Score must be “greater than 30% and 50% for fragile and non-fragile products”, respectively for Tier 1 (FFP) and Tier 2 (SIOC).
- According to Amazon, fragile products include but are not limited to items containing:
- Glass, ceramic/porcelain/clay
- Liquid/semi-liquids; Solids that can become liquid at temperatures experienced during the distribution cycle (above 70°F or 21.1°C).
- Electronics easily damaged when dropped from 18 in. or 45.7 cm. without packaging.
Is FFP for You?
Frustration-Free Packaging can be beneficial for your business in many ways, such as:
- Decreases in packaging costs
- Potentially lower fulfillment fees
- Happier customers and, thus, better reviews
- More environmentally sustainable footprint
- Greater Amazon search relevancy
- Additional messaging on product detail pages
- Separating you as a Seller from the rest (in situations of multiple sellers on the same listing)
Having more convenient packaging removes frustration for your customers when opening your products (hence the name), and improves the buying experience. If customers are happier with their purchase, it will help your seller feedback as well as your product reviews. The more positive reviews, and the better your seller feedback, the better you will sell on Amazon. FFP also reduces your costs when it comes to fulfillment fees and lowers the carbon footprint of shipments going out of fulfillment centers. Basically a win-win-win-win for your customers, your business, Amazon, and the environment.
FFP can be a good strategic move for your business if:
- You have an existing Seller Central account
- Have already been SIPP certified
On the flip side, it might not be worth the effort to overturn your entire operation for the FFP certification. For one thing, FFP compliant packaging does not grant any additional discounts beyond those offered for SIPP certification, so Amazon is not providing extra perks when you’re environmentally friendly. Additionally, Amazon does not display a special FFP badge on your listings when customers are browsing online, so this certification will not immediately improve your conversions and conversion rate. As such, be prepared to wait a bit for new reviews to trickle in before assessing the effectiveness of your efforts.
How VASO Group Helps With Your Packaging Needs
Our account managers are always keeping up with the ever-changing requirements of packaging programs, including SIPP and FFP. We confidently bring up-to-date insights to the table to help you best prepare for changes and stay ahead of the curve, and we will be there every step of the way with your product team to ensure complete compliance with Amazon guidelines.