Overview

Amazon’s Ships in Product Packaging (SIPP) program lets qualifying items be sent to customers in the manufacturer’s original box, eliminating the need for Amazon’s standard overbox. For products that fall under the “rigid packaging” category, this approach can cut packaging waste, lower per‑unit shipping fees, and speed up the fulfillment workflow. Sellers must understand the exact definition of compliant rigid packaging to enroll successfully and avoid costly reversals.

Key Points

• Rigid packaging definition — Amazon treats any fully enclosed six‑sided cardboard box, whether a simple kraft brown box with single‑color printing or a full‑color retail box, as rigid packaging provided it has a secure seal.
• Eligibility criteria — An item packaged in a qualifying rigid box can be shipped directly to the buyer without an extra Amazon outer box, as long as the box meets durability and protection standards set by Amazon.
• Structural integrity requirement — The box must be strong enough to protect the product throughout the shipping journey; flimsy or poorly constructed boxes are automatically disqualified.
• Seal standards — Packages must feature seals that stay closed under normal handling; a tuck‑flap closure without adhesive or tape is generally insufficient.
• Cost and sustainability upside — By removing the Amazon overbox, sellers can reduce dimensional weight charges and contribute to lower cardboard consumption.

How Rigid Packaging Works Under SIPP

1. Enrollment verification — Sellers submit the ASIN for SIPP review; Amazon checks the box dimensions, material, and seal quality against its guidelines. Example: a 12 × 8 × 4 in. cardboard box with a glued top flap passes, while a 12 × 8 × 4 in. box with only a tuck‑flap fails.
2. Fulfillment center handling — Once approved, the fulfillment center picks the product and places it directly into the original box, skipping the step of inserting it into a secondary brown overbox. Example: a set of wireless earbuds arrives at the FC already sealed in its retail box and is shipped as‑is to the customer.