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Fall/Winter Holiday E-Commerce: Smart Shipping for Peak Season Success

Over the past 15 years, Halloween has become a mainstream holiday in the EU, with demand for costumes, decorations, and confectioneries rising sharply. During Black Friday, consumers splurge on electronics, clothing, and luxury items. Cyber Monday then extends the shopping frenzy with deals on tech gadgets, appliances, and digital goods.In 2024, EU e-commerce saw holiday-season sales grow by 1%, with the overall spending of 1.2 trillion dollars globally (SalesForce). That translates to billions in revenue generated across these three events alone. Prepare your e-commerce shipping strategy ahead – with sustainability, product safety, and smart marketing in mind!

Understanding the holiday demand surge for choosing the best shipping packaging

During the holiday season, e-commerce experiences a significant surge in consumer demand, driven by seasonal promotions and gift shopping. Retailers face increased pressure to manage inventory, fulfill orders efficiently, and maintain customer satisfaction. This spike in online shopping directly impacts the logistics and marketing strategies, making timely communication and delivery more critical than ever.


E-commerce mailers play a vital role in meeting this heightened demand.With holiday traffic peaking, high-quality, reliable mailers are in greater demand, helping brands maintain their competitive edge while delivering a seamless customer experience

How Halloween went from niche to mainstream in Europe?

Halloween has transitioned into a mainstream event across Europe. In 2024, retailers experienced a significant uptick in sales, with online revenues increasing by over 32% in the UK during the Halloween period. This surge reflects a broader cultural shift, with more consumers embracing Halloween traditions, including costume parties and themed decorations.

The 2024 Halloween season saw a diverse range of products capturing consumer interest. Costumes, particularly those inspired by popular culture, were in high demand. Accessories, decorations, and party supplies also experienced significant sales growth. These items are typically compact and lightweight, making them ideal for efficient shipping.

Given the compact nature of most Halloween products, quality padded mailers are essential for ensuring safe and cost-effective delivery. These mailers provide adequate protection for items like costumes and accessories during transit, reducing the risk of damage and enhancing customer satisfaction. Their lightweight design also helps in minimizing shipping costs, making them a preferred choice for e-commerce businesses during peak seasons.

Black Friday – top product categories in the last years

Black Friday has become a significant retail event in Europe, with notable shifts in consumer purchasing behavior over recent years. In 2023, European online sales increased by 8% compared to 2022, with notable growth in high-tech and beauty categories. Specifically, as Nielsen’s report states, floor cleaning products saw a remarkable rise in sales during Black Friday 2023, highlighting the evolving consumer preferences during this shopping event. 

The surge in Black Friday sales is largely driven by compact and easily shippable products. Categories such as electronics, including handheld devices and accessories, along with fashion items like clothing and accessories, have seen significant demand. These products are typically lightweight and come in their original packaging, making them ideal for efficient shipping and handling during peak sales periods. Our guide is here to help you pick the perfect shipping solution for your merchandise. 

Given the compact nature of these products, quality padded mailers are essential for ensuring safe and cost-effective delivery. These mailers provide adequate protection for items like smartphones, headphones, and apparel during transit, reducing the risk of damage and enhancing customer satisfaction. Their lightweight design also helps in minimizing shipping costs, making them a preferred choice for e-commerce businesses during peak seasons. Furthermore, soft items such as folded or rolled clothing can be sent in our lightweight poly mailers, optimizing the package weight and dimensions even further. 

Cyber Monday – top product categories in the last years

Cyber Monday has solidified its position as a major online shopping event in Europe, with significant year-over-year growth in various product categories. In 2023, European online sales on Cyber Monday increased by 10% compared to the previous year. Popular categories included electronics, apparel, toys, and home appliances, with electronics leading the charge due to substantial discounts and high consumer demand.

The boost in Cyber Monday sales is primarily fueled by products that are compact and easy to ship. High-demand categories include electronics—such as handheld devices and accessories—as well as fashion items like clothing and small accessories. These products are generally lightweight and arrive in their original packaging, making them perfect for efficient and cost-effective shipping during peak shopping periods.

Given the compact nature of these products, quality poly and padded mailers are essential for ensuring safe and cost-effective delivery. These mailers provide adequate protection for compact items, reducing the risk of damage and enhancing customer satisfaction. Their lightweight design also helps in minimizing shipping costs, making them a preferred choice for e-commerce businesses during peak seasons.

Understanding the holiday demand surge for choosing the best shipping packaging

As holiday e-commerce demand continues to grow, businesses need shipping packaging solutions that can keep pace with high order volumes while ensuring product safety. Key features include durability, lightweight design, and adequate cushioning to protect items in transit. Compact products such as apparel, accessories, and small electronics benefit greatly from padded or poly mailers, which offer reliable protection without increasing shipping costs.

Modern consumers increasingly expect sustainable packaging options that minimize environmental impact. Eco-friendly mailers, recyclable materials, and reduced packaging waste are now essential considerations for holiday shipments. At the same time, customizability, such as highlighted branding or seasonal designs allows businesses to enhance the unboxing experience, reinforce brand identity, and capture customer attention during peak shopping seasons.

Ensuring product safety during transit

During the holiday season, transporting products safely requires more than just the right size of packaging. Key metrics include shock resistance and padding, as well as protection from elements like moisture or dust. These factors are critical when shipping delicate or high-demand items such as holiday decorations, clothing, shoes, and electronics. Optimizing packaging for these metrics ensures that products arrive in perfect condition, maintaining customer satisfaction.

Preventing damage efficiently also involves choosing the right materials and shipping methods. Padded or poly mailers are ideal for compact items like apparel and accessories, while careful packing techniques — such as wrapping electronics in bubble wrap minimize the risk of breakage. These solutions balance protection with cost-effectiveness, helping businesses ship large volumes during peak seasons without wasting resources.

For particularly valuable or fragile goods, a high level of protection is essential. Using Extra Strong Envelopes or Co-Ex Filbags with added bubble wrap provides the ultimate solution, combining durability, shock absorption, and resistance to environmental factors. This approach ensures even the most delicate products, like latest electronics or intricate decorations arrive safely, enhancing brand reputation and reducing returns.

Communicating sustainability efforts to customers

Promoting sales during holiday seasons doesn’t have to come at the expense of sustainability. Businesses can highlight eco-friendly practices, such as using recyclable packaging and mailers made from recycled materials, reducing packaging waste, and choosing lightweight shipping solutions to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers while driving seasonal revenue. Transparent communication about these efforts builds trust and encourages repeat purchases.

Our new aroFAIR mailer  is a prime example of a customizable, made-to-measure shipping packaging solution for “green” companies looking to boost sales during Halloween, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. By offering tailored shipping packaging that aligns with brand values, aroFAIR mailer helps businesses showcase their commitment to sustainability while maintaining a strong holiday marketing presence.

Customization is key for combining branding with eco-friendliness. Our products can be easily personalized with logos, seasonal designs, or messaging using sustainable inks and materials. This allows companies to create memorable unboxing experiences for customers without compromising their green initiatives, making each shipment both effective and environmentally responsible.

Minimizing packaging waste and greenhouse gas emissions from shipping

Sustainable shipping is especially important for seasonal goods, which are often used only for a short time each year. Minimizing packaging waste and emissions helps reduce the overall environmental footprint of these products. By choosing eco-friendly shipping packaging solutions, businesses can align with growing consumer demand for sustainability while maintaining efficient and responsible logistics during peak shopping seasons.

Avoiding excessive packaging is key to balancing product safety with sustainability. Compact and protective options such as aroFAIR 100% Paper Mailers, Eco, Classic or Extra Strong Bubble Mailers, or Foam Mailers ensure products remain secure without unnecessary bulk. These solutions reduce material use and shipping weight, cutting both waste and carbon emissions while keeping items like decorations, apparel, or accessories safe in transit.

To ensure packaging choices are truly eco-friendly, businesses should look for recognized certifications and recyclable materials. Verified sustainability labels confirm compliance with environmental standards, while fully recyclable packaging and solutions made from PCR (post-consumer recycled content) supports a circular economy. Selecting packaging with clear recycling instructions further encourages end users to dispose of it responsibly, reinforcing a brand’s green commitment.

Why are padded envelopes the made-to-measure solution for e-commerce industry during the season?

During the holiday season, padded envelopes offer a perfect balance of protection, efficiency, and sustainability for e-commerce businesses. Designed to safeguard compact products like clothing, accessories, and small electronics, they provide excellent cushioning while keeping parcels lightweight. Their ready-to-use format helps speed up the packing process—an essential advantage when order volumes surge and reduces shipping costs, making them a truly made-to-measure solution for peak-season fulfillment.

Mailers, as an alternative to cardboard boxes, help online retailers optimize storage and logistics. Because mailers take up significantly less space and weigh less than traditional boxes, businesses can stock more packaging on-site and respond faster to customer demand. This flexibility ensures timely order fulfillment while cutting warehouse costs and improving operational efficiency.

Outer shell

Choosing the right outer shell is essential for protecting products during shipping—especially during high-demand seasons. The right mailer ensures items stay safe, reduces waste, and aligns with your brand’s operational and sustainability goals. From flat, fragile goods to bulkier, medium-sized items, there’s a perfect solution for every e-commerce need.

Foam Mailers offer a padded solution ideal for flat and delicate goods such as documents, photos, or fragile accessories. Their lightweight yet protective structure helps prevent scratches, dents, and breakage during transit, making them a reliable choice for businesses shipping sensitive products.

Bubble Mailers are available in Eco and Extra Strong variants offering both sustainability and resistance. They’re perfect for small- and medium-sized goods, providing impact protection while minimizing environmental impact. For brands with strong green values, aroFAIR is a highly sustainable option, perfectly suited for companies looking to integrate eco-conscious packaging into their logistics strategy.

Void fillers

Using additional void fillers, such as foam chips, often results in wasted space and higher shipping costs. These materials add unnecessary bulk to packages, making storage and transport less efficient. What’s more, foam fillers are notoriously difficult to recycle, complicating waste management and increasing the environmental impact of every shipment, especially during busy e-commerce seasons.

Our mailers are designed with built-in protective layers, providing all the cushioning your products need without relying on excessive void fillers. This smart construction keeps items secure and intact during transit, ensuring both cost-efficiency and environmental responsibility. By eliminating redundant materials, you simplify your packing process while reducing overall waste.

For shipments that genuinely require extra padding, our recycled and recyclable Bubble Wrap is the ideal choice. It’s not only recyclable but also highly reusable, offering extended life cycles and a truly sustainable shipping solution for businesses aiming to reduce their carbon footprint.

Labeling

Efficient and sustainable labeling is key to smooth logistics and brand presentation, especially during peak e-commerce seasons. Our customizable, PCR-made packing list pouches provide a professional way to display invoices, shipping documents, or return information. By integrating post-consumer recycled content, they help reduce plastic use while keeping your operations aligned with sustainability goals.

These pouches offer a secure and eco-friendly method to ship waybills and labels. Their durable, transparent material ensures documents stay visible and protected from moisture or damage, supporting a seamless customer experience. This approach combines practicality with environmental responsibility that is vital for modern online retailers.

When paired with a Co-Ex Filbag, they create a user-friendly, compact, and customizable shipping solution for boxed goods. Together, they streamline packaging workflows, minimize material waste, and remain easily recyclable, making them an ideal choice for businesses focused on efficiency and sustainability.  

Communicating sustainable shipping to customers efficiently

Amid the holiday sales rush, customized sustainable packaging helps your brand stand out while reinforcing your eco-friendly values. By incorporating sustainability-related messaging such as eco-labels, recycled content claims, or green design elements directly onto your mailers, you ensure your voice is heard even during peak shopping periods. Shipping packaging customization not only strengthens brand recognition but also shows customers that environmental responsibility is at the heart of your business.

Encouraging customers to take part in your green mission further enhances your image. Include clear “package received, packaging recycled” instructions to guide responsible disposal and reinforce your sustainability message. Choosing eco-friendly shipping packaging, such as recyclable mailers, complements your brand identity and demonstrates genuine environmental commitment, turning every delivery into a statement of shared values between your business and your customers.

Sourcing your packaging in Europe

Choosing to source your shipping packaging solution in Europe significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to importing from overseas. Shorter transport routes mean lower CO₂ output, faster delivery times, and a smaller environmental footprint. For brands committed to sustainability, EU-to-EU shipping offers an unbeatable balance of eco-responsibility and supply chain efficiency—especially crucial during high-demand seasons.

European shipping packaging suppliers also provide raw materials with certified origins, ensuring every component meets strict environmental and quality standards. Certifications such as FSC and Blauer Engel confirm responsible sourcing and sustainable production practices, helping businesses align with EU environmental policies and enhance their green credentials.

Moreover, European-made packaging prioritizes both customer safety and environmental protection. With ISO-certified manufacturing, clear recycling instructions, and a transparent production process, businesses can ensure compliance, traceability, and trust. This approach strengthens brand reputation while supporting a circular economy built on accountability and sustainability.

Choosing certified shipping packaging

When it comes to sustainable logistics, certified shipping packaging offers proven reliability and environmental responsibility. Our solutions are backed by globally recognized certifications such as FSC (responsible forestry), Blauer Engel (eco-friendly materials), and ISO standards (quality and safety). These labels confirm that each product meets strict sustainability, performance, and compliance requirements, giving businesses peace of mind with every shipment.

Selecting certified packaging is an investment in both product protection and environmental stewardship. Certified solutions guarantee traceable sourcing, reduced carbon impact, and adherence to high manufacturing standards. This not only ensures compliance with EU environmental regulations but also helps brands meet growing consumer expectations for transparency and sustainability.

By choosing certified packaging, your brand demonstrates a genuine commitment to quality and eco-conscious practices. Visible certifications on packaging build trust, strengthen credibility, and show customers that you prioritize sustainable choices—enhancing your brand image and setting you apart in a competitive e-commerce market.

Conclusion

The growth in demand for costumes, décor, and sweets can be easily observed in the fall months, as is the case with holiday e-commerce sales growth. In 2024, EU online sales rose 1%, contributing to over $1.2 trillion in global holiday revenue (Salesforce).

To make the most of this surge, your packaging must be as reliable and versatile as your business. FILMAR offers durable, sustainable, and customizable mailers available in multiple sizes, perfect for safely shipping everything from compact tech gadgets to fashion items. Each solution is designed to protect your products, promote your brand, and support eco-friendly practices.

Get in touch with us today to choose the best sustainable packaging solutions for your e-commerce business. Be ready for the next holiday shopping wave!

FILMAR Group’s product offer aligns with the growing consumer demand for sustainable packaging. Our solutions, such as Eco-Bubble Mailers represent this commitment. The products are crafted from sustainably sourced, recycled and recyclable materials, meeting both consumer expectations and regulatory requirements like the EU PPWR.

By choosing FILMAR’s eco-friendly packaging, companies can reduce their environmental impact, support recycling infrastructures, and enhance their brand reputation. Our customizable solutions not only contribute to a circular economy but also provide practical, sustainable options for businesses of all sizes.

Discover our certified, sustainable shipping envelopes and poly mailers: