The COVID-19 pandemic, which is now almost a distant memory, has left most of us with habits that are now hard to shake. According to figures from France Info, we spent nearly 130 days in lockdown since March 2020 in France (fortunately, not all consecutive, phew!). Non-essential stores were closed for 148 days (yes, that includes clothing, stationery, tech shops...), and restrictions lasted up to 431 days for nightclubs. After almost three highly unusual years, our normal life took some time to feel, well, normal again; but now, most of us have returned to a rhythm resembling what we knew in 2019 and early 2020. Yet, readjusting to life outside our homes can be tough, especially for those who became fans of deliveries during this period...

Yes, now you won't always be home to receive your packages. However, most won't fit in your mailbox, and here's why; mailboxes vary, just like parcels do in size. This is precisely the debate sparked by DeliveryX's 2023 Packaging Report: when it comes to parcels and protection, what's excessive?

You've probably received a package with excessive layers inside, all to protect a single item, to the point where it can be ridiculous. According to a consumer survey (you, me, and everyone flying solo – oops, Gregoire momentarily took over), 62% would avoid recommending an online store that sends overpacked parcels. As for oversized packages, 67% claim they wouldn't recommend if their parcel is too large – potentially losing customers over something quite silly.

Some buyers also view the eco-friendliness of their package as an important aspect of their consumer experience.

But consumer preferences aren't the only thing to consider when pondering whether your brand should focus on parcel packaging. Indeed, reducing their size whenever possible will often allow your parcels to fit snugly into the consumer's mailbox. As a consumer yourself, it's impossible not to be irked when missing a delivery because excessive packaging prevented it from fitting into your perfectly functional mailbox, forcing a pick-up at a collection point.

Click & collect is an option, sure, but why settle when your mailbox could do the job just fine? If Origin Coffee managed, after a six-month project, to create packaging designed to fit all nearby mailboxes, there's no reason other brands can't follow suit. Especially with the rise in parcel theft, at least in the UK, it's not appealing to leave your customers' parcels within easy reach of everyone.