Your Amazon order has arrived. Like a kid at Christmas, you begin frantically opening the box, until you hit the inside. Basically, you need a box cutter, a screwdriver and possibly a blowtorch to free your purchase from its mega-protective packaging.

Well, Amazon just announced a “Frustration-Free Packaging” initiative that should make it easier to start enjoying your purchases. It sounds kind of stupid, but also incredibly smart. After all, are all of those plastic-coated wire ties and cardboard really necessary for a book?

Probably not, but for now, the company is concentrating more on toys and smaller electronics. The first steps are to partner with manufacturers such as Fisher-Price, Mattel and Microsoft.

A nice side effect is that the new packaging will also be more eco-friendly, with less paper and other packaging materials.

Also, you don’t have to worry about those circus peanut Styrofoam things being part of the package. The company has a list of stuff that’s currently being sent with Frustration-Free Packaging. Hopefully that list will get longer during the holiday shopping months. Amazon also says they will expand the plan to international sites starting next year. 

Rachel Cericola - Contributing Writer

Over the past 15 years, Rachel Cericola has covered entertainment, web and technology trends. Check her out at www.rachelcericola.com.