The U.S. packaging industry has cut about five million metric tons of materials since 2019, even as e-commerce and shipping volumes continue to grow. That’s the finding of a new report from AMERIPEN. This packaging trade group says companies are rethinking how products are packaged and shipped to use less material without losing performance.
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The shift comes from several strategies: lighter packaging designs, moving to refill and reuse models, and switching to more efficient materials. AMERIPEN’s report says those efforts have helped reduce material use across food, consumer goods, retail, and shipping sectors.
“These reductions happened while demand continued to climb,” the group said, noting that fewer raw materials were used during a time of record online shopping.
The report also warns that further reductions may get harder as companies have already taken many of the easy steps. The next phase may require greater collaboration among suppliers, packaging manufacturers, product manufacturers, and logistics teams. Companies are also balancing new rules around recyclability and extended producer responsibility programs, which could change how packaging is sourced and designed.
In supply chain operations, lighter packaging could mean lower transportation costs and fewer freight miles. But it also puts pressure on manufacturers and logistics providers to adapt quickly. New formats may require different storage specifications and different handling processes in warehouses and fulfillment centers.
AMERIPEN called packaging a “strategic focus” as we advance, not just a cost line item. The group said the next few years will likely shape how materials are sourced, how much is recycled, and how packaging fits into freight, sustainability goals, and warehouse operations.
