SGS, the world’s leading
inspection, verification, testing and certification company, has expanded its global network of International Safe Transit
Association (ISTA) accredited packaging test laboratories – with the opening of
three new labs in Cestas (Bordeaux, France); Manesar (Delhi,
India) and Appleton, WI, USA.
The network offers the full suite of ISTA test procedures –
including ISTA 6-Amazon, the new Amazon packaging certification standard.
Amazon’s new Frustration-Free Packaging (FFP) Certification standard requires
that all packaging is easy to open, designed to be recycled and able to protect
products from damage throughout the supply chain without the need for
additional packaging or preparation by Amazon. In February 2020, Amazon
introduced chargeback fees of
$1.99 (€1.70
in Europe) per unit which may be charged to
companies whose packaging fails to meet the standard.
John O’Connell, Global
Packaging Director, SGS
said: “We welcome Amazon’s ambition to reduce waste, reduce costs and improve
customer satisfaction through its packaging standards, and have been working hard to expand our ISTA
accredited laboratory network.
“We want to
make it easier for manufacturers and retailers to take the steps needed to gain certification and
reduce their organizational risk and costs.”
Package testing standards
ISTA’s standardized transit package testing
establishes both performance and development test methods:
- Performance Testing – simulates
distribution hazards to determine if a packaged product can survive normal shipment stressors - Development Testing – assesses the general quality of packaging design while comparing packaging systems and creating a benchmarking tool
Additionally, SGS can perform package testing to
meet one or more of the three tiers of the ISTA 6-Amazon tests:
- Frustration-free Packaging (FFP)
- Ships in its Own Container (SIOC), and
- Prep-free Packaging (PFP)
Furthermore, SGS is a leading
member of the Amazon Packaging Support and Supplier Network (APASS).
“Our Amazon packaging experts are
best placed to evaluate your packaging needs and guide you through Amazon’s
Frustration Free Packaging Certification process,” added John O’Connell.
“They can also help determine the best certification and most efficient path
for your products and recommend options to reduce costs and unnecessary waste
while improving sustainability and customer experience.”
SGS packaging testing services
SGS’s packaging test labs provide specialized
testing services to the paper, nonwovens, packaging and consumer products
industries. Whether it is recyclability, food contact, migration testing, odor
analysis, heavy metals, trace organics, physical properties or defect analysis,
SGS can deliver against all testing requirements.
Discover the SGS ISTA certified laboratory network.
For
further information, please contact:
Stephanie
Pionchon
Global
Marketing Manager
Email:
crs.media@sgs.com
About SGS
SGS
is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification
company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity.
With more than 94,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices
and laboratories around the world.