the blistering speed at which developments in packaging for ecommerce and home delivery occur may result in an underdeveloped fundamental knowledge on the matter itself, thus potentially negatively influencing the sustained growth of this sector. to combat this potential threat, universities must be invigorated, on a global scale, to research the matter of web retail packaging wrp including new materials, packaging techniques and the enduse of packaging by consumers. this is the conclusion of the nvc&rsquos annual international working group meeting, that took place in rotterdam on the 25th of september, 2015. the working group also supported the development of a course for business professionals. this nvc ecourse packaging for ecommerce with four online sessions gives an excellent insight into the importance of packaging for successful ecommerce business. the next group starts on november 9th, 2015. the working group is part of the nvc&rsquos innovation project web retail packaging. the nvc working group web retail packaging consists of major international etailers, manufacturers and packaging services suppliers. supported by the nvc association office in gouda, the netherlands, this international group provides guidance and intelligence to the global ecommerce community. since its creation in 2013, the nvc&rsquos innovation project has focussed on raising awareness on the topic of web retail packaging and diffusing information and knowledge on a global scale. this was done through the nvc&rsquos participation in global conferences as well as publishing an nvc position paper &lsquopackaging as driver for the sustained future of ecommerce&rsquo. it is this sustained future for which research must be intensified. photo the nvc international working group at the annual meeting in rotterdam 25th september, 2015 
