2026 Packaging Trends Report: What E-Commerce Businesses Need to Know This Year

The future is automated, sustainable, and branded. Here is the IPG toolkit to stay ahead.

If 2025 was the year of "stabilization" for e-commerce, 2026 is shaping up to be the year of optimization. The days of simply getting a brown box to a doorstep are over. Today’s consumer expects packaging that is eco-friendly, easy to open, and visually stunning—while today’s warehouse manager needs processes that are faster and less labor-intensive than ever before.

At IPG, we don’t just watch trends; we engineer the products that define them. As you strategize for the year ahead, here are the three major shifts hitting the industry and the specific IPG solutions you need to dominate them

TREND 1: "Curbside Recyclable" is the New Baseline

Consumers are tired of "wish-cycling." They want packaging they can toss in their blue bin without peeling off labels or separating plastic liners. In 2026, curbside recyclability isn’t a bonus; it’s a requirement.

The IPG Solution: The Curby™ Collection

Stop shipping small items in big boxes filled with plastic air pillows.

• Curby Mailers™: Switch to our paper-based mailers. They offer the protection of a padded envelope but are 100% curbside recyclable. They reduce DIM weight (shipping costs) and eliminate the "box guilt" customers feel when recycling.
• Paper Void Fill: If you must use a box, fill it with our sustainable paper solutions that cushion effectively without the plastic waste.

TREND 2: The "Unboxing" as the Only Storefront

For e-commerce brands, the shipping box is the only physical touchpoint you have with your customer. A plain brown box sealed with clear plastic tape is a missed marketing opportunity.

The IPG Solution: Custom Printed Water-Activated Tape (WAT)

Turn every shipment into a billboard.

• Branding: Use Central® Brand Water-Activated Tape to print your logo, QR codes, or seasonal messages directly on the seal. It looks premium and professional.
• Security: Unlike pressure-sensitive tape that can be peeled off and stuck back down, WAT fuses to the carton. If someone tampers with your package, the evidence is visible. It is the ultimate mix of branding and theft prevention.

 
TREND 3: Automation is the Answer to Labor Shortages

Finding and retaining reliable warehouse staff continues to be a challenge in 2026. The most successful businesses are those that stop relying on manual labor for repetitive tasks like taping and sealing boxes.

The IPG Solution: Better Packages & Interpack™

Stop taping by hand. It’s slow, inconsistent, and causes repetitive strain injuries.

• For the Packing Station: Deploy the Better Pack® 555e Series electronic dispensers. They deliver the exact length of tape needed, instantly, every time. Speed up your packers by 20% or more and prevent strain related injuries.

• For the Conveyor Line: If you are moving high volumes, install an Interpack™ Case Sealer. These machines automatically tape and seal boxes, allowing your staff to focus on picking and packing rather than taping.

TREND 4: Circular Economy Films

Plastic isn't disappearing, but "bad" plastic is. The trend for 2026 is high-performance films that fit into a circular economy—using less material to do more work.

The IPG Solution: Exlfilm® & Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Options

• Exlfilmplus®: Our high-performance shrink films allow you to down-gauge (use thinner film) without sacrificing clarity or strength.
• Stretch Film: Secure your pallets with our high-performance stretch films that require less wrap to achieve superior load containment, ensuring your products arrive safely without generating excessive waste.
  
  

The 2026 Playbook

The winning formula for e-commerce this year is simple: Pack smaller, brand louder, and automate everything.

You don't need multiple vendors to achieve this. You just need IPG.

From the Curby mailer that holds the product, to the Better Pack dispenser that seals it, to the printed tape that brands it—we are the single-source partner for your 2026 evolution.

Ready to upgrade your fulfillment strategy?