A new paradigm for packaging design in web-based commerce

E-commerce is one of the most important features to have emerged from the presence of the Internet. It allows people to exchange goods with low time or distance barriers. E-commerce creates new opportunities; meanwhile, it also presents new challenges in terms of supplying chain management, particularly regarding the packaging system. Packaging functions have had to develop along with the new requirements enforced by e-commerce (i.e., increased amounts of packaging materials for each product, an increased need to protect items, end-life management, environmental sustainability, etc.). In this paper, the authors propose an original reference framework for the design of a product packaging system that can be applied to e-operations. According to the framework, the authors have developed a mathematical model for evaluating the cost that a company has to sustain when partaking in e-commerce business. In conclusion, the paper discusses the application of both the framework and the mathematical model to a case study in order to develop an innovative packaging solution for e-commerce.