Amazon’s Compact by Design certification was created to identify products with more efficient packaging. But what really makes a design more efficient?
In this blog post, we’re going into more depth about the Compact by Design certification. We’ll also tell you how to determine if your packaging meets the standards for efficiency. Keep reading to learn more!
Why is compact by design important?
When designing packaging to be more efficient, there are some things to keep in mind. However, not every product qualifies for the certification. To find out if your product does, you can check here for a complete list!

When making your packaging more efficient, it requires less packaging. These products are easier to ship, and can lead to fewer carbon emissions! Here are some ways you can make your packaging more efficient:
- Including less air in the package — think of a bag of chips that was 50% air
- Waterless technology — taking water-based products and turning them into solids (i.e liquid shampoo into a solid shampoo bar)
- Less packaging — reduce the amount of excess packaging
- Lighter packaging — use lighter materials to reduce excess weight
- Concentrated products — sell a concentrated product that can be diluted at home
- More efficient shape — a container that can hold the same amount of product with less volume
How to calculate efficiency
Criterion such as item package dimensions, weight, and the number of units determine the product’s efficiency. The number of units can be the number of items in a package, or the intended number of uses for a product!

The image above shows how you can calculate if your packaging is efficient. Check out Amazon’s list to see what the threshold for your product is!
why you should care about Amazon’s Compact by Design certification
By removing excess air, water, and bulk, the products also become easier to ship. According to Amazon:
At scale, these small differences in product size and weight lead to significant carbon emission reductions.
Though the changes might seem small but they play a bigger role! How can you tell if your packaging is efficient? Amazon put together this visual guide to let you know.
Additionally, making your packaging more efficient can also make the end-user’s experience easier. Efficient packaging is frustration-free for end users, which could also lead to a more positive unboxing experience.
Ultimately, your packaging is the way that customers decide how they feel about your product. In a previous blog post, we talked about how brands lose money over poor packaging decisions, and how you can avoid them yourself!
How can LeKAC Sourcing help?
At its core, Amazon’s Compact by Design certification is all about the environment, and the environment is at the heart of what we do at LeKAC Sourcing too!
Efficient packaging might sound a bit boring, but it doesn’t have to be! If you’re not sure where to start, our design specialists can help you figure out how to maximize your space.
Contact us today to learn how we can help! Whether you’re bringing a design with you or need our help making one, we’ve got you covered!