Today, customers do a lot of shopping at home, but this convenience comes at a price. One problem: e-commerce packaging waste is becoming a problematic issue.

Most manufacturing, distribution and retail companies have done a very good job recycling packaging materials. Almost everyone collects used corrugated boxes, bundles them together, and sends them to recycling bins on a regular basis.

However, as more and more products are now shipped directly to consumers through e-commerce companies, more packaging materials are needed, and more products will eventually enter the household waste stream. Consumers only recycle a small portion of the packaging materials that bring online shopping to their doorsteps, so the environment is being double-wounded-there is more packaging in the supply stream and less packaging is recycled.

Those ubiquitous brown corrugated cardboard boxes are mostly made of recycled materials. The cartons themselves are recyclable, but when the cartons are piled up in the consumer’s garage, attic, or cellar, the recycling circuit will be interrupted, or worse. Yes, simply throw it in the trash can.

And there may be bigger problems. Smaller goods, such as typical goods sold directly to consumers, require more fillers or fillers to protect the contents because they are handled through a longer supply chain and more cartons.

Products that are usually shipped from suppliers to retailers in boxes and pallets are designed for efficient packaging and do not require much filler (if any). E-retailers put individual items of different sizes into a box, usually requiring more filler. Most of the plastic foam, packaging peanuts, organic fiber materials and other e-commerce packaging waste are eventually landfilled. The shift from plastics to biodegradable organics is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, but only a small step.

Let’s look at the sustainability pyramid to help prioritize actions: manufacturers, online retailers, and consumers must continue to find ways to reduce the use of packaging and filling materials. Consumers can reuse packaging during shipment, including returning to suppliers, storing at home, and other creative uses to prevent materials from entering the waste stream. Manufacturers should continue the transition to recyclable materials, if they have not, to meet the recycling part of the process, and should emphasize the use of biodegradable materials when and where possible.

Equally important, consumers must be encouraged to reuse and recycle packaging materials. HP is a good example of early success.

For many years, laser printer toner cartridges have been shipped to stores in corrugated cartons and delivered directly to consumers. These corrugated cartons can be reused and the used toner cartridges are returned to HP for recycling. There is a return label on the box, allowing consumers to simply place the used ink cartridges in the shipping box at any UPS location for a post-paid return.

A small Finnish startup called RePack offers a program through several clothing companies. Online shoppers pay a small deposit and get a refund after the bag or box is returned to the company through any post office in Europe. The return rate is 95%. .

Other examples of innovative recycling solutions include Dell, which has reduced its box size by about 10% and developed bamboo mats-a fast-growing material that can be composted or recycled as paper-to replace foam, and also Started manufacturing packaging wheat straw made from agricultural waste and mushrooms.

However, simple recycling is not the real answer, because the increase in the amount of packaging materials in the supply chain means that more materials will eventually enter the landfill. And recycling itself has its own environmental impact on transportation, water, energy consumption and other aspects. 

Continue to work to solve the packaging waste problem. Business sustainability has become a sign of long-term success. How the Internet of Things can help reduce waste in the supply chain

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