From pants to poultry, the COVID-19 pandemic has driven a surge in consumer demand for e-commerce goods delivered directly to their homes. According to figures from the U.S. Department of Commerce, e-commerce is experiencing a booming 32.4% surge from 2020—the highest annual e-commerce growth in at least two decades.1 It is expected e-commerce is now on track to surpass 20% of total retail by 2024.2
At the same time, the increasing number of shipments delivered directly to doorsteps has only increased consumer focus on packaging sustainability. Food companies transitioning to more e-commerce offerings – while striving to meet aggressive sustainability targets – should consider the full life-cycle benefits flexible packaging can deliver as part of their packaging mix.