What Is Ships in Product Packaging (SIPP)?

Ships in Product Packaging (SIPP) is an Amazon packaging program that allows eligible, certified products to ship in their own product packaging without additional Amazon overboxing. The program reduces excess packaging, lowers dimensional weight costs, and can speed fulfillment for items whose retail packaging already protects the product for transport.

How The Program Works

Amazon evaluates a seller's item and its retail packaging for suitability to travel through the FBA network without an extra Amazon carton. If the product passes Amazon’s certification checks, it is approved for SIPP and can be shipped to customers in its original packaging. Certification typically considers durability, seal integrity, barcode placement, and whether the packaging prevents contamination or leakage.

What Certification Looks For

• Durability: The retail box must resist puncture, crush, and typical stacking loads encountered in distribution and transport.
• Seal Integrity: The packaging should be factory-sealed or have a tamper-evident closure to protect contents.
• Labeling: A scannable UPC/ASIN barcode must be visible or accompanied by a properly placed Amazon label without obscuring safety information.
• Containment: Liquids, powders, or loose components require secondary containment or clear evidence the retail package prevents leaks.

Why Merchants And Warehouses Use SIPP

SIPP reduces materials, labor, and waste. For merchants, it can cut packing time and materials cost. For Amazon and warehouses, fewer overboxed units mean lower cubic utilization and often lower dimensional (DIM) weight charges. It’s also a sustainability win: shipping fewer boxes reduces cardboard use and increases pallet density.

When SIPP Is Not Appropriate

• Fragile Items: Products that are easily damaged in transit usually still require protective overboxing with void fill or corrugated protection.
• Hazardous Materials: Items regulated under hazmat rules often follow strict packaging that may preclude SIPP.
• Items With Loose Components: Multi-piece items where small parts can become separated should not ship without additional secure packaging.

Operational Impact For Warehouses

Warehouses need to incorporate SIPP flags into their WMS and pick-pack workflows. Certified SKUs should skip overboxing steps and follow label application rules defined by Amazon. Quality checks at receiving should verify certification matches incoming cartons; non-certified returns or inbound items that fail inspection must be reboxed per Amazon guidance before they enter fulfillment inventory.

Practical Example

A consumer electronics seller has a line of headphones in rigid retail boxes with dense foam inserts and factory seals. After applying for SIPP and passing Amazon’s assessment, the seller ships units to FBA. Warehouse staff route those SKUs to a SIPP flow: apply the Amazon label over a dedicated label area, skip overboxing, and receive lower packaging costs and faster throughput because the items move through one fewer packing step.

Tips For Getting Approved

• Pretest Packaging: Do your own distribution drop tests and document results to speed Amazon review.
• Standardize Barcode Placement: Keep the UPC or FNSKU location consistent and unobstructed to avoid scanning delays.
• Use Tamper Evidence: Factories should apply tamper-evident seals or permanent closures to demonstrate containment.
• Maintain Samples: Keep packaging samples and photos available for Amazon audits or re-certification.

In short, the Ships in Product Packaging (SIPP) program lets suitable items travel through Amazon’s network in their original retail packaging, cutting packaging steps, reducing waste, and lowering cost when an item’s own packaging already meets transit and safety needs.