Unpacking the experience of online shoppers in 2024
Our ninth annual unboxing survey has unpacked the online shopping experience of consumers once more.
This year, during July and August, online shoppers revealed what they thought about the packaging being used by internet retailers and how it can impact their shopping experience.
Highlights
56%
say there's no clear recycling labelling
73%
say they won't pay more for sustainable packaging
79%
say they are satisfied or very satisfied with their unboxing experience
What sectors does our unboxing survey cover?
The 2024 unboxing survey saw consumers review packaging from an extensive range of sectors spanning fashion and beauty through to automotives and electronics.
This year, just over 70% of responses were about packaging from these four sectors:
24% fashion
16% healthy & beauty
15% food & drink
16% home & garden
Unboxing now – and then
What consumers say about their online shopping habits and how it influences packaging
60%
said they’ve been spending more time shopping online
95%
choose home delivery when purchasing online
6%
had to return an item to a retailer
The future of sustainable packaging
With Extended Producer Responsibility on the horizon, sustainable packaging is a hot topic for many businesses – retailers and 3PLs included – but what do consumers think?
60%
have been spending more time shopping online
81%
say the packaging they received was easy to recycle
20%
will drop a retailer if their packaging isn’t sustainable
10%
of parcels had no recycling instructions
81%
say the packaging they received was easy to recycle
What do your customers think about the packaging you send them?
The full survey contains detailed analysis and opinions about this year’s unboxing trends from the experts in packaging
Packaging optimisation - the key to balancing cost and sustainability
How Macfarlane can help you optimise your packaging to deliver a memorable unboxing experience
The Packaging Optimiser
Our unique Packaging Optimiser tool can show you what your packaging is costing you and the environment. See its impact across six key areas in your supply chain from storage through to transport customer experience.
With two state-of-the-art Innovation Labs, we can help you solve challenges and create your ideal unboxing experience. Your packaging will be brought to life by on-site designers, production finish samples, industry standard testing and even mixed-reality demonstrations.
Our huge range of packaging has been designed with sustainability in mind. Choose from options that are recyclable and contain recycled content and use just the right amount of material to protect your products while minimising your environmental impact.
Our team of experts can help you optmise your packaging designs so you can get the most out of it. The tweaks we make to your designs can hlp improve pallet yields, reduce material used in manufacturing, help prevent damages and even cut the CO2e associated with your packaging.
Sustainability is still a top priority for consumers when it comes to packaging, but not at the expense of keeping prices down. Alongside the need to wow customers, the results of our 2023 unboxing research highlight the complex balancing act retailers and 3PLs need to perform when it comes to delivering an ideal unboxing experience.
55%
say retailers should keep sustainable packaging a top priority
42%
say retailers should keep sustainable packaging a top priority but not at the expense of keeping costs down
87%
would be willing to return packaging to a retailer if it was re-usable
6%
Happily, only 6% of products arrived damaged in 2023
57%
of retailers are making the most of their packaging by branding it