Amazon APASS Compliance Solutions

Are you an Amazon supplier? Heard about APASS but don’t know how to attain certification? Crawford Packaging offers APASS support and consulting services to ensure that your packaging is compliant and doesn’t incur extra costs.

What is APASS?

What Is APASS and What Does It Stand For?

APASS stands for the Amazon Packaging Support and Supplier Network. In short, APASS is a system and certification process that ensures sellers’ packages meet one of the following tiered requirements:

Tier 1: Frustration-Free Packaging (FFP)

Curbside recyclable materials
Quick and easy to open
Minimal packaging used
Ships without an Amazon overbox
ISTA-6 SIOC tested and approved
Low damage/defect rates
No prep required by Amazon

Tier 2: Ships in its Own Container (SIOC)

Ships without an Amazon overbox
ISTA-6 SIOC tested and approved
Low damage/defect rates
No prep required by Amazon

Tier 3: Prep-Free Packaging (PFP)

Ships with an Amazon overbox
ISTA-6 overbox tested and approved
Low damage/defect rates
No prep required by Amazon

Amazon’s Frustration Free Packaging Three Tiers – via packworld.com

Why APASS?

What Is the Purpose of APASS?

Frustration Free Packaging was first introduced in 2007 as a greater initiative to minimize Amazon’s impact on the environment and promote positive customer experiences. Since 2007, Amazon has been able to eliminate more than 244,000 tons of packaging materials.

APASS Benefits

What Are the Benefits of APASS Certification?

Each tier has its own benefits for suppliers and vendors. The ultimate goal is to meet Tier 1 (FFP).

Tier 1: FFP

Amazon ensures that your Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN) is not sidelined to have additional prep applied, preventing prep chargebacks.

Vendors can reduce waste, enhance sustainability, and realize cost savings by eliminating unnecessary package marketing features.

Smaller packages translate to lower transportation costs.

Tier 2: SIOC

Tier 3: PFP

What You Need to Know About APASS

When Will APASS Requirements Be Put in Place?

Amazon enforced a deadline for ASINS to meet APASS requirements by August 1st 2019 (if their items are larger than 18” x 14” x 8” or 20 lbs). Vendors who did not meet this deadline may incur chargebacks for every package not certified.

What Is the APASS Certification Process?

STEP 1

Engage your Crawford Packaging Specialist who will work with you to provide samples of your packaging and have them tested at a certified Amazon lab.

STEP 2

When your product passes one of the certification tiers, the lab will send an Amazon standard coversheet with a report to upload for quick certification.

STEP 3

Once you receive the report, you can upload it on Amazon’s website by doing the following:

1 – Go to Items > Amazon Packaging Certifications

2 – Click Enroll Your Product and answer a basic questionnaire

3 – Once finished, click View Dashboard

4 – Find your enrolled ASIN and click Open

5 – Click Upload External Test and upload your coversheet and report (you can upload multiple files if separate)

6 – Upon review, Amazon’s team will certify your product and a notification will be sent via email.

Ready to start the certification process?
Get in touch with your Packaging Specialist today.

Resources:

Global, Amazon Network. Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging Program Certification Guidelines. PDF file. August 15, 2019. https://d39w7f4ix9f5s9.cloudfront.net/42/8b/1a59177d4db29f580118ca35c861/amazon-frustration-free-packaging-program-certification-guidelines-v10.1__2019_FINAL.pdf
Global, Amazon Network. Amazon Packaging Support and Supplier Network (APASS). PDF file. May 8, 2017. https://m.media-amazon.com/images/G/01/Anything/test/images/blogphotos/Amazon_Packaging_Support_and_Supplier_Network_Testing_20170518._CB515421615_.pdf
Amazon.com. Launch Announcement: Frustration-Free Packaging Vendor Incentive Program. PDF file. September 17, 2018. https://d39w7f4ix9f5s9.cloudfront.net/cf/26/2f4f97d649a5bb769b41e71d2a09/ffp-vendor-incentive-program-announcement-and-faq-may-30-2019-1.pdf