eCommerce Packaging Trends 2025: Innovations & Sustainability

eCommerce packaging forms one of the most integral aspects of the eCommerce fulfillment chain. It has several roles to play, including safety, branding, customer satisfaction, and many more Since it is the first and the most impactful element of your selling process that comes in contact with your customer, it is evident that it can make or break their impression about your brand. 

According to a Mordor Intelligence report, the eCommerce packaging market was valued at USD 27.04 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach USD 61.55 billion by 2025. The demand is growing significantly in the Aisa-Pacific market as eCommerce is growing at a fast pace. 

Every year witnessed several changes in the eCommerce trends. This also means that the fulfillment sector follows different packaging, shipping, and customer support trends. 

To ensure that your eCommerce business does not lag behind, it is imperative that you know and follows the trends wherever possible. Trends are what your customers are looking for, and we define the industry extensively. Here are a few packaging trends that are working for eCommerce businesses in 2025.

What Does eCommerce Packaging Consist?

eCommerce packaging usually consists of two major layers of packaging – primary and secondary packaging. If required, these can also include tertiary packaging if the product is fragile or of high value. 

• The primary packaging can be a thin cardboard box, plastic bag, plastic film, etc. 
• The secondary packaging may be made up of corrugated boards, courier bags, etc. 

Market Trends – eCommerce Packaging

Asia-Pacific is one of the largest growing markets for the eCommerce industry, with significant contributions from India and China. Therefore, it will be a hub for more packaging material demands.

India’s eCommerce revenue is expected to jump from USD 3.9 billion in 2017 to USD120 billion in 2020. This means that the demand for high-quality packaging material is only likely to increase in the coming years. 

Many eCommerce companies are now paying attention to sustainable packaging solutions to reduce plastic waste. They are consciously moving towards paper-based packaging, and this eCommerce packaging trend is also expected to hit the consumer electronics and FMCG segment. 

eCommerce Packaging Trends for 2025

With the rise of online shopping and changing consumer priorities, eCommerce packaging in 2025 will focus on sustainability, personalisation, and enhanced customer experience. Here are some of the main trends:

Hygienic Packaging Design

With the increasing cases of COVID-19 and the global pandemic, people have become much more aware of the safety and sanitary practices related to their packages. 

Therefore you must choose packaging materials that do not let the virus be viable on the packaging surface. The pandemic study says that Coronavirus survival rates vary from 24 to 72 hours based on the packaging material.

You can also provide a clean film on the entire package and surface and the consumer can peel it off before coming in contact with the main packaging box, which will help provide an additional security layer that makes the customer confident about the packaging material and the safety of their product. 

Superior Unboxing Experience

Customers today want a personalized experience when they receive a package. Especially when they receive products from D2C brands, they look for a customized touch to it. Even in marketplaces like Amazon, where the packaging is relatively straightforward, customers look for an additional catch to differentiate it from their competitors.

For example, when you purchase products from stores like Mamaearth or caffeine, you always get some notes, instructions, or discount coupons within the package. This is what makes the box wholesome and gives the customer a unique feeling. Today, most things are experiential, and if your customer gets a good experience while opening the product, they will come back to you repeatedly. 

Since everyone buys products after seeing influencers’ reviews, they wish to get a similar experience when they receive the product. You can do so by using good quality packaging material like corrugated boxes and courier bags by brands like Shiprocket Packaging. Once you use good quality packaging material, you can ensure that the material is tamper-proof. You can also include several packaging inserts to make sure your message is put out loud and clear.

Branded Packaging

If a customer has a good experience, they share it on social media via Instagram stories, Snapchat, or Facebook posts. Therefore, your brand name must be visible on the packaging material. 

If your customer shares this image with the packaging on their social handles, you will receive many eyeballs right from your customer. This is equivalent to the word-of-mouth marketing that any Indian eCommerce brand relies on.

This trend is catching with the industry’s pace as many more brands are now optimizing the packaging design with its brand name.

I recently received a package from Mama Earth, where the entire box had its brand name printed on it.

This leaves an everlasting impression on the buyer as the packaging material stays with them much beyond the product. If your packaging material is sturdy, it will be used as other storage containers before it is disposed off, leaving a mark on your customer for a long. 

Sustainability

Next, the need of the hour is sustainable packaging. This includes a biodegradable form of packaging material that does not cause long-lasting harm to the environment. Since there is a lot of awareness about climate change, and environmental damage due to the extensive use of plastic in eCommerce packaging, people are now looking for ecological alternatives.

Now you can count on options like starch-based packaging, bio-plastics, or cornstarch-based packaging. These are very commonly available. Hence, it becomes easy to procure them.

You can also use cardboard boxes that are readily biodegradable over a span of time. Also, they help reduce the carbon footprint.

Recyclable Packaging

Even though biodegradable packaging is essential, it is not a viable option for many sellers. Many eCommerce sellers take the initiative to pack and ship in biodegradable packaging. Still, many have just started their business and cannot afford starch-based or bio plastic-based packaging material. Hence you need to go for a more sustainable option that is recyclable packaging.

Plastic takes over 150-1000 years to degrade. Therefore, you must use recyclable material and avoid the use of new plastic at all costs. This helps you actively contribute to the environment, and when you put a tab of recyclable material on your product, it leaves a good impression in your buyer’s mind. 

You can use packaging material offered by Shiprocket Packaging that includes corrugated boxes and courier bags made of a hundred percent recyclable and sustainable material. You can get sufficient quality packaging material from them delivered to your doorstep and make packaging a simple task for your online business. 

Minimalistic Packaging 

In the coming years, product packaging will move towards minimalism. Minimalistic packaging uses fewer materials and reduces waste. It can appeal to customers who prioritise sustainability and value-conscious choices. Minimalistic packaging generally includes clean designs, neutral colour tones, and subtle branding to create a sophisticated look and feel. They look elegant and are handy and cost-effective; 92% of customers feel that minimalistic, biodegradable, and eco-friendly packaging is important. In fact, in India, 7 out of 10 Indian shoppers support minimal packaging to make deliveries more sustainable. 

Two common examples of minimalistic packaging include regular slotted corrugated containers and foldable cardboard boxes. Both of these packaging solutions have become quite popular in recent years. You’ll have enough space to print brand and marketing elements on them. 

Personalised Packaging

Customised packaging means you can tailor its shape, size, printing options, and more, according to your brand’s identity and messaging and what would appeal to your customers the most. In addition to personalising dimensions, you can also customise other aspects of packaging. For instance, you can add custom inserts, such as bubble wraps and dividers to your personalised packages for properly organising your products and offering them better protection. In 2023, the global personalised packaging market was valued at 43.88 billion US dollars. It’s further expected to reach 71.10 billion US dollars by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 5.62% during this period. 

Personalised packaging is also designed to fit a product perfectly instead of fitting into a ready-made package. You can add your brand’s logo, colours, etc., to personalised packaging. It can help you make a good first impression, communicate value to customers, and save on shipping and storage. You can also use personalised packaging to advertise and increase the perceived value and quality of products. 

Interactive Packaging

Interactive packaging is expected to see widespread adoption by brands in the coming years. Its global market was valued at 29.8 billion US dollars in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% between 2024 and 2032. Interactive packaging is a type of packaging which involves the use of technology, including QR codes, augmented reality (AR), etc. This type of packaging can help you create two-way communication between your customers and the product. It can play a significant role in increasing your customer retention rates. 

Interactive packaging can help your customers learn about the product, how to use it, and its key features. It also enables you to create immersive experiences for your customers, which can help them feel more connected to your brand. Interactive packaging is a great way to stand out from competitors and increase product demand. 

Smart & Multi-Purpose Packaging

Smart and multi-purpose packaging goes beyond traditional packaging functions. It gives your brand unique opportunities to engage with customers in innovative ways. You can incorporate advanced technologies, such as QR codes, sensors, RFID chips, digital identifiers, etc., to monitor product conditions, provide additional information to your customers, interact with customers, and serve multiple functions beyond basic containment. 

Smart packaging involves using sensors to track and monitor temperatures, product freshness, humidity, and other parameters, facilitating better quality control and consumer awareness. It has become quite popular in recent years, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, where it had a market share of 36.73% in 2023. In the same year, the global market for smart packaging was valued at 23.33 billion US dollars. It’s expected to reach 40.02 billion US dollars by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 6.24% during the same period. 

With a multi-purpose packaging design, you can serve multiple purposes compared to traditional packaging. Multi-purpose packaging design can act as a promotional tool, provide instructions, or be reused as a container. For instance, you can deliver products in custom boxes or durable cartoons, which your customers can later use to store their household items. Multi-functional packaging provides extra value to your customers and reduces waste.

Why is eCommerce Product Packaging Important?

Here are some key benefits of eCommerce product packaging:

• Product Protection: One of the biggest benefits of eCommerce product packaging is that it protects your product from damage during handling and shipping, reducing the risk of returns and minimising costs. 
• Brand Awareness & Marketing: Well-designed packaging can help you create a strong first impression and differentiate your brand from your competitors. Custom packaging also gives your customers great opportunities for unique unboxing experiences. Many customers share their unboxing experiences on social media, which increases brand awareness through word-of-mouth marketing. 
• Customer Experience & Loyalty: You can enhance customer satisfaction through thoughtful packaging, leading to repeat purchases and fostering customer loyalty. 
• Cost Reduction: Effective packaging can help you minimise wasted materials and space, reducing their environmental impact and shipping costs.
• Information: Product packaging communicates important details about your product, including features, usage instructions, branding elements, and more. Packaging labels inform your customers about the product’s price, quantity, usage, quality, ingredients, and other features. 
• Sustainability: Using eco-friendly packaging can help you enhance your brand’s reputation and credibility among environmentally conscious customers.

Conclusion

eCommerce packaging is ever-evolving. Trends today might not be the same next year as the industry is overgrowing, and consumer behaviour is changing at a fast pace. It is an intelligent call to adapt to trends and mould your business to match your customer’s needs. Follow these packaging trends to ensure that your online business is always in fashion.