[3814058]

I have a family member who works for IKEA and one reason that small objects need lots of big packaging is because of theft, simple as that.

It wastes space for them, adds costs, and so on but the reduction in thefts are so big that it's worth it.

[userbinator]

That, and the packaging helps prevent shipping damage.

Those who have ordered something fragile and received it broken because it was underpackaged so much as to be nearly naked will know what I mean.