Macy's packaging requirements are not one document. Every vendor shipping to Macy's or Bloomingdale's stores, .com, or through Vendor Direct Fulfillment (drop-ship) must follow the carton, labeling, and shipping specifications in Macy's Vendor Standards on the MacysNet portal, which set carton size, strength, and prohibited-material rules. Separately, Macy's, Inc.'s corporate sustainability commitments, covering packaging materials, waste diversion, and (as of 2024) extended producer responsibility, are reported annually and are shifting away from Macy's own numeric packaging targets toward state-law compliance.
In This Guide
- Macy's packaging requirements at a glance
- Why does Macy's have these requirements?
- Carton and packaging material requirements
- Labeling and ticketing requirements
- Sustainability standards for packaging
- How2Recycle and ISTA testing
- Requirements by category and shipping channel
- How a vendor becomes compliant
- How the program has changed over time
- Where EcoPackables fits in
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources
Key Takeaways
- No single named program: operational carton, labeling, and shipping rules live in Macy's Vendor Standards on the MacysNet portal, while sustainability commitments are reported separately under the Mission Every One platform in Macy's, Inc.'s annual Corporate Responsibility Report.
- General merchandise cartons for stores and .com must measure 9″–36″ x 9″–27″ x 3″–30″, weigh 5–50 lbs, and meet a minimum 32 ECT (150 Mullen) edge crush rating; PVC, Styrofoam, and shrink-wrapped exteriors are prohibited.
- Macy's discontinued its self-defined 2025 (fulfillment) and 2030 (private brand) sustainable-packaging targets in 2024, replacing them with alignment to state-level packaging EPR laws; its 2025 Corporate Responsibility Report reframes this again as a "holistic packaging sustainability strategy" aimed at mitigating EPR fees, still with no numeric target.
- Compliance failures are enforced through per-unit expense offsets, raised from $0.60 to $0.75 per unit effective July 1, 2023, plus a 10% handling fee on all returns regardless of reason.
- Neither a How2Recycle labeling mandate nor a named ISTA testing protocol could be confirmed as a documented Macy's vendor requirement in any source reviewed, including the 2024 and 2025 Corporate Responsibility Reports.
Who This Guide Is For
Whether you're pitching Macy's for the first time or keeping an existing program compliant, the requirements below apply the same way. Here's where most readers start:
First pitch
Founders preparing a Macy's pitch
Start with the carton, weight, and material specs so your packaging design is already inside Macy's tolerances before you're in front of a buyer.
Ongoing compliance
Compliance managers at existing vendors
Focus on the expense-offset section and the 2024–2025 sustainability shift, the two areas most likely to change your account's numbers this year.
Private brand / packaging dev
Teams building private-brand or exclusive packaging
The Preferred Materials Policy and the FSC/SFI certification requirements in the sustainability section apply most directly to you.
Macy's Packaging Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement area | What Macy's requires |
|---|---|
| Governing document | Macy's Vendor Standards (MacysNet portal); no single named "packaging program" |
| Carton size & material specs | 9″–36″ (L) x 9″–27″ (W) x 3″–30″ (H), 32 ECT minimum. Full carton and material rules in the table below. |
| EDI accuracy target | 99.5% (EDI 856 Advance Ship Notice); 98% UPC accuracy / 99.5% piece-count accuracy at cross-dock |
| Non-compliance expense offset | $0.75 per unit (raised from $0.60, effective July 1, 2023) |
| Return handling fee | 10% of order value, regardless of return reason |
| 2025/2030 packaging sustainability targets | Discontinued in 2024; replaced with state EPR-law alignment |
Sources: Macy's Vendor Standards (MacysNet); Macy's, Inc. 2024 and 2025 Corporate Responsibility Reports. See Sources for full citations and dates.
Why Does Macy's Have Packaging and Vendor Sustainability Requirements?
Macy's packaging rules serve two separate purposes that vendors often conflate. The Vendor Standards exist to protect merchandise in transit, keep carton dimensions compatible with Macy's distribution and store-replenishment systems, and control the cost of damaged or mis-shipped goods. Sustainability commitments, by contrast, are reported under Macy's, Inc.'s Mission Every One corporate responsibility platform and are driven by a different set of pressures: investor and regulatory expectations, and, increasingly, state-level extended producer responsibility (EPR) packaging laws that now apply in states including Oregon, Colorado, California, Maine, Minnesota, and Maryland.
That distinction matters for vendors. A carton that meets every Vendor Standards spec can still fall outside Macy's evolving sustainability preferences, and vice versa. The requirement detail below is organized to keep those two tracks separate.
Pro tip
If you're preparing a first pitch, treat the Vendor Standards carton specs as non-negotiable and the sustainability section as directional. Macy's sustainability targets have changed twice since 2022, but the physical carton specs have not.
What Are Macy's Carton and Packaging Material Requirements?
These specifications come from Macy's Vendor Standards, the operational (non-sustainability) rulebook every vendor agrees to when shipping to Macy's or Bloomingdale's.
| Packaging element | Requirement | Prohibited / restricted |
|---|---|---|
| Carton dimensions | 9″–36″ (L) x 9″–27″ (W) x 3″–30″ (H) | Outside this range without prior approval |
| Carton weight | 5–50 lbs fully packed | Over 50 lbs without freight pre-approval |
| Carton strength | Minimum 32 ECT (150 Mullen burst) | Below-minimum single-wall board |
| Carton exterior | Clean, single-item corrugated shipper with legible label | Exterior bands, straps, staples, shrink wrap |
| Polybags | Clear polyethylene, 0.9–1.5 mil (3 mil for rolled rugs) | Polypropylene or cellophane polybags |
| Rigid/foam fill | Corrugated inserts, paper void fill | PVC, Styrofoam / expanded polystyrene |
Source: Macy's Vendor Standards, MacysNet vendor portal (login required for the current version).
What Does Macy's Packaging Recommendations Document Ask of Vendors?
Beyond the mandatory Vendor Standards, Macy's Packaging Recommendations document sets additional preferences vendors are encouraged, though not always contractually required, to follow:
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Right-size cartons to the product. Minimize dead space to reduce void-fill use and dimensional-weight shipping costs.
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Use recycled-content corrugated board where possible. Macy's fulfillment centers use Sustainable Forestry Initiative-certified, recycled-content cardboard as an internal benchmark.
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Favor paper tape over plastic tape. Aligns with Macy's stated preference for mono-material, more easily recyclable cartons.
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Use FSC-certified paper for private brand hangtags. Applies specifically to private brand and exclusive-label vendors.
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Limit printed ink coverage on shipping cartons. Reduces contamination in the recycling stream.
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Avoid mixed-material composites where a mono-material option exists. Composite packaging is harder to recycle and complicates EPR fee calculations under most state programs.
What Are Macy's Labeling and Ticketing Requirements?
Carton and ticket labeling errors are one of the most common sources of vendor expense offsets, because they can trigger cross-dock rejections as well as the offset itself.
| Label type | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Carton label format | GS1-128 compliant shipping label, one per carton, placed per Macy's label placement diagram |
| UPC ticketing | Machine-readable UPC ticket on every unit; 98% UPC accuracy target at cross-dock |
| Piece-count accuracy | 99.5% accuracy target between carton contents and ASN piece count |
| Advance Ship Notice (EDI 856) | Required before shipment arrival; 99.5% accuracy target |
| Packing list (VDF/drop-ship) | Macy's or Bloomingdale's branded packing list required inside every VDF carton |
| Hazmat / compliance labeling | Per federal DOT/OSHA requirements where applicable; no Macy's-specific supplement identified |
Source: Macy's Vendor Standards and VDF Supplemental Standards, MacysNet vendor portal.
What Sustainability Standards Does Macy's Require for Packaging?
This is the part of Macy's packaging program that has changed the most, and where vendors relying on older articles or a single source are most likely to be working from outdated information.
The original packaging ambitions (2022 Sustainability Report)
Macy's, Inc.'s 2022 Sustainability Report set two forward-looking packaging goals: 100% recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging for .com fulfillment by 2025, and a parallel goal for private brand packaging materials by 2030.
The 2024 shift: discontinued in favor of EPR alignment
Macy's, Inc.'s 2024 Corporate Responsibility Report discontinued both self-defined targets. In the company's own words:
Direct quote, 2024 Corporate Responsibility Report
"Given the focus on state-level packaging EPR, we are discontinuing our self-defined sustainable packaging ambitions for both private brands and fulfillment to instead align with and respond to state-level laws and the direction of the state Producer Responsibility Organizations."
What That Means Practically for a Vendor
Macy's no longer holds itself, or by extension its vendors, to a fixed numeric packaging target. Instead, packaging decisions are increasingly shaped by the EPR laws of the states where Macy's does business, which set their own material eligibility rules, reporting requirements, and per-ton or per-unit producer fees. A vendor's packaging can be fully compliant with Macy's Vendor Standards while still carrying EPR fee exposure that varies by state.
The 2025 Update: Reframed Around EPR Fee Mitigation
Macy's, Inc.'s 2025 Corporate Responsibility Report, published June 2026, confirms this direction is holding and reframes it again, this time explicitly around cost:
Direct quote, 2025 Corporate Responsibility Report
"Macy's, Inc. is advancing a holistic packaging sustainability strategy designed to reduce environmental impact and mitigate Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees."
Current Packaging Practices Macy's Has Reported
Independent of the discontinued targets, Macy's has reported several ongoing packaging practices: FSC-certified paper for private brand hangtags, Sustainable Forestry Initiative-certified recycled-content cardboard at its fulfillment centers, and a Preferred Materials Policy that sets fiber-certification expectations for private brand products.
Preferred Materials Policy
Macy's Preferred Materials Policy is the company's live mechanism for steering private brand sourcing toward certified fiber, replacing the discontinued numeric packaging targets as the operative sustainability lever for private brand vendors specifically.
Waste Diversion
Macy's, Inc. has reported a store and facility waste diversion rate of 69% for fiscal year 2025, up from 67% in fiscal year 2024 (reported as 66.8% in the 2024 Corporate Responsibility Report) and 65% in fiscal year 2023, against a company-wide goal of 80% diversion by 2030. This diversion figure covers overall operational waste, not packaging specifically, but packaging materials are a contributing stream.
| Year | What changed |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Sustainability Report sets 2025 (.com fulfillment) and 2030 (private brand) packaging material goals |
| 2023 | Expense offset for non-compliance raised from $0.60 to $0.75 per unit, effective July 1 |
| 2024 | Corporate Responsibility Report discontinues both self-defined packaging targets; pivots to state EPR-law alignment |
| 2025 | Waste diversion reported at 69% (FY2025); packaging strategy reframed around EPR fee mitigation |
| 2026 and beyond | No new numeric packaging target announced as of this guide's last verification (September 23, 2026) |
Sources: Macy's, Inc. 2022, 2024, and 2025 Corporate Responsibility / Sustainability Reports. See Sources.
Does Macy's Require How2Recycle Labeling or ISTA Testing?
Neither could be confirmed as a documented, blanket Macy's vendor requirement in any source reviewed for this guide, including Macy's Vendor Standards and the 2024 and 2025 Corporate Responsibility Reports.
Macy's carton strength requirement (32 ECT / 150 Mullen) is specified on its own terms, not tied to a named ISTA transit-test protocol the way some other retailers' guides reference ISTA 3A or 6-Amazon.SIOC. Similarly, while Macy's reports FSC and SFI fiber certification practices, a universal How2Recycle on-pack labeling mandate for vendor shipping cartons was not found in any Macy's-published document reviewed. Vendors working on a category with unusually strict transit or labeling demands should confirm directly with their Macy's buying or vendor relations contact, since category-specific supplements are not all publicly posted.
How Do Requirements Differ by Category and Shipping Channel?
| Category / channel | Key difference from general merchandise |
|---|---|
| General merchandise (store) | Standard Vendor Standards carton, weight, and labeling specs apply |
| VDF drop-ship | Branded packing list required; ship within 2 business days of PO; assigned UPS account only; 98.5%+ on-time ship rate |
| Furniture / lamps | Oversized-freight handling; carton dimension maximums may not apply the same way |
| Beauty | Additional hazmat/liquid-shipping labeling where federally required; no Macy's-specific packaging supplement confirmed |
| Rugs | 3 mil polybag permitted for rolled rugs (vs. 0.9–1.5 mil standard) |
| Home / oversized items | May route through freight rather than standard parcel network; separate carrier rules apply |
| Backstage | Separate routing guide; full terms not fully verifiable from public sources |
| Marketplace (3P sellers) | Distinct seller-agreement packaging terms; not fully verifiable from public sources |
Source: Macy's Vendor Standards and VDF Supplemental Standards, MacysNet vendor portal. Backstage and Marketplace rows reflect what could not be fully confirmed publicly; see Sources.
How Does a Vendor Actually Become Compliant, and What Happens If They Aren't?
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Complete EDI onboarding
Set up the required EDI transaction sets with Macy's or its designated provider: 850 (purchase order), 855 (PO acknowledgment), 856 (advance ship notice), 810 (invoice), 997 (functional acknowledgment), and 846 (inventory), plus 860 for change orders where applicable.
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Hit the accuracy targets
Maintain 99.5% accuracy on EDI 856 Advance Ship Notices, 98% UPC accuracy, and 99.5% piece-count accuracy at cross-dock. These are the metrics Macy's audits most closely.
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Meet shipping and carrier requirements
Ship on the carrier and account Macy's assigns for your program (VDF vendors use a Macy's-assigned UPS account), and route cartons per the applicable routing guide for your category or channel.
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Understand the consequences of non-compliance
Packaging, labeling, or shipping errors trigger expense offsets, $0.75 per unit as of July 1, 2023 for the categories that increase applies to. Returns carry a flat 10% handling fee regardless of the reason for the return.
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Know the dispute window
According to independent reporting from SPS Commerce (not a Macy's-published figure), vendors generally have a 90-day window from the date of a deduction to file a dispute through Macy's chargeback process.
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Follow Macy's Vendor Code of Conduct
Packaging and shipping compliance sits alongside Macy's broader Vendor Code of Conduct expectations around ethical sourcing and business practices, last confirmed current as of June 2022 and flagged in this guide as a source that should be re-checked for a newer version.
How Has Macy's Packaging Program Changed Over Time?
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2019–2021
Macy's Vendor Standards operate as the baseline operational rulebook for carton, weight, and labeling specs, largely unchanged in structure from prior years.
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2022
Macy's, Inc. publishes its Sustainability Report setting the 2025 .com fulfillment and 2030 private brand packaging material goals. The Vendor Code of Conduct is current as of this year.
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2023
The non-compliance expense offset increases from $0.60 to $0.75 per unit, effective July 1, 2023, raising the cost of packaging and labeling errors for vendors.
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2024
Macy's, Inc.'s Corporate Responsibility Report discontinues both self-defined 2025 and 2030 packaging targets, redirecting packaging strategy toward alignment with state-level EPR laws and Producer Responsibility Organizations. Waste diversion is reported at approximately 66.8%–67% for the fiscal year.
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2025
Waste diversion improves to 69% for fiscal year 2025. Internally, packaging work is increasingly framed around EPR fee exposure rather than a standalone sustainability target.
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2026 and Beyond
Macy's, Inc.'s 2025 Corporate Responsibility Report, published June 2026, formalizes the EPR-fee-mitigation framing as a "holistic packaging sustainability strategy." No new numeric packaging target has been announced as of this guide's last verification on September 23, 2026. Vendors should check for a newer Corporate Responsibility Report before relying on the figures in this guide beyond mid-2027.
Where EcoPackables Fits In
Meeting Macy's carton, labeling, and material specs while also managing EPR fee exposure across multiple states is a packaging engineering problem as much as a compliance one. EcoPackables designs compostable and recyclable mailers, cartons, and void-fill built to hold up under standard carrier handling, sized to reduce dimensional weight and material use, the same two levers Macy's own Packaging Recommendations document points to.
We work with vendors at both stages this guide is written for: founders sizing packaging correctly before a first Macy's pitch, and compliance managers auditing an existing program against Macy's current specs and the shifting state EPR landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Macy's have a named packaging sustainability program, like Target Zero or Ship It Right?
No. Macy's does not publish a single branded packaging compliance program. Operational carton, labeling, and shipping rules live in Macy's Vendor Standards on the MacysNet portal, while sustainability commitments are reported under the broader Mission Every One platform in Macy's, Inc.'s annual Corporate Responsibility Report.
What is the minimum carton strength Macy's requires?
Macy's Vendor Standards set a minimum edge crush test (ECT) rating of 32 ECT, equivalent to 150 Mullen burst strength, for cartons shipped to stores and .com fulfillment centers. This is a different testing basis than the ISTA transit-test protocols some other retailers reference; Macy's own documentation does not name a specific ISTA standard.
Does Macy's still require 100% recyclable or preferred-material packaging by 2025?
No. That 2025 fulfillment packaging goal, along with a parallel 2030 goal for private brand packaging, was set in Macy's, Inc.'s 2022 Sustainability Report but was discontinued according to the 2024 Corporate Responsibility Report, in favor of aligning packaging practices with state-level extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws. Macy's 2025 Corporate Responsibility Report (published June 2026) confirms this direction is holding, describing a holistic packaging sustainability strategy focused on mitigating EPR fees, still with no reinstated numeric target.
What packaging materials does Macy's prohibit?
PVC and Styrofoam packing materials are prohibited, along with polypropylene or cellophane polybags, and exterior bands, straps, staples, and shrink wrap on shipping cartons. Polybags must be clear polyethylene at 0.9 to 1.5 mil thickness, with limited category exceptions such as 3 mil polybags for rolled rugs.
What happens if my packaging or labeling doesn't meet Macy's requirements?
Macy's applies expense offsets, per-unit financial deductions collected via account deduction, for compliance failures; certain offset amounts increased from $0.60 to $0.75 per unit effective July 1, 2023. Returns are subject to a 10% handling charge regardless of reason. According to independent reporting from SPS Commerce, vendors generally have 90 days from a deduction to file a dispute.
Does Macy's require How2Recycle labeling or FSC certification from vendors?
Macy's own materials reference FSC-certified paper for private brand hangtags and Sustainable Forestry Initiative-certified, recycled-content cardboard at its fulfillment centers, and its Preferred Materials Policy sets fiber certification targets for private brand products. A blanket How2Recycle labeling mandate for vendor packaging was not confirmed in any Macy's-published source reviewed for this guide.
Are packaging requirements different for drop-ship (Vendor Direct Fulfillment) vendors?
Yes. VDF vendors must include a Macy's or Bloomingdale's branded packing list in every carton, ship complete orders within two business days of purchase order receipt, use only the UPS account Macy's assigns to that vendor, and maintain a 98.5% or higher on-time ship rate, requirements that don't apply the same way to standard store or bulk .com shipments.
Where can I find Macy's current, complete vendor packaging specifications?
The full, current specifications live behind Macy's MacysNet vendor portal, including the Vendor Standards document, the Packaging Recommendations document, and channel-specific supplements like the VDF Supplemental Standards and Backstage Routing Guide. A confirmed Macy's vendor number and MacysNet login are required to access the complete, current versions; your Macy's vendor relations or buying contact can confirm which supplement applies to your specific program.
What We Could Not Verify, and Where to Confirm Before You Rely on This Guide
- Whether either the 2025 .com fulfillment or 2030 private brand packaging targets were ever met before being discontinued in 2024. Macy's public reporting does not state a final result against either goal.
- Which specific states' EPR laws Macy's is currently reporting compliance under; the 2024 and 2025 reports describe alignment in general terms rather than a state-by-state breakdown.
- Whether ISTA transit testing or How2Recycle labeling applies to any specific product category not covered in the public Vendor Standards summary.
- The complete, current expense-offset and chargeback fee schedule across all categories; only the general-merchandise $0.75 per unit figure and the 10% return fee were confirmed.
- The full current terms of the Backstage Routing Guide and Marketplace seller packaging terms, neither of which was publicly accessible at the time of research.
If your program depends on any of the above, confirm directly with your Macy's vendor relations or buying contact, or through the current documents on the MacysNet vendor portal, before finalizing packaging decisions.
Ready to switch to recyclable, paper-based packaging?
Explore EcoPackables' full range of sustainable packaging solutions, or talk to our team for recommendations tailored to your Macy's compliance needs.
Related Guides
Sources
View all 14 sources and access dates
1. Macy's Vendor Standards, MacysNet vendor portal (login required). Accessed September 2026.
2. Macy's Packaging Recommendations document, MacysNet vendor portal (login required). Accessed September 2026.
3. Macy's VDF Supplemental Standards, MacysNet vendor portal (login required). Accessed September 2026.
4. Macy's Backstage Routing Guide, referenced but not fully publicly accessible. Accessed September 2026.
5. Macy's, Inc. Vendor Code of Conduct. Published June 2022. Flagged: over 18 months old at time of this guide's last update.
6. Macy's, Inc. 2022 Sustainability Report, macysinc.com. Published 2022. Flagged: over 18 months old.
7. Macy's, Inc. 2024 Corporate Responsibility Report, macysinc.com / s202.q4cdn.com. Published 2024.
8. Macy's, Inc. 2025 Corporate Responsibility Report, s202.q4cdn.com. Published June 2026.
9. Macy's, Inc. Mission Every One platform overview, macysinc.com. Accessed September 2026.
10. SPS Commerce, independent reporting on Macy's vendor chargeback dispute windows. Accessed September 2026.
11. Macy's, Inc. investor relations filings referencing packaging and EPR fee exposure, s202.q4cdn.com. Accessed September 2026.
12. State EPR packaging law summaries (Oregon, Colorado, California, Maine, Minnesota, Maryland), respective state agency sources. Accessed September 2026.
13. GS1-128 carton labeling standard, GS1 US. Accessed September 2026.
14. Macy's, Inc. 2025 Corporate Responsibility Report (PDF), s202.q4cdn.com. Published June 2026, the primary source for this guide's September 23, 2026 re-verification.
Freshness flags: sources 5 and 6 are more than 18 months old as of this guide's last update and are included only for historical context (original 2022 targets and Code of Conduct baseline); all figures drawn from them are superseded by sources 7 and 8 where applicable.