What's happened
An estimated 17% of holiday purchases are returned this year, increasing environmental impacts due to repeated shipping and packaging. Experts highlight that online clothing and footwear returns have higher rates, with significant ecological costs, prompting calls for better return practices.
What's behind the headline?
The environmental impact of holiday returns will intensify as online shopping continues to grow. Returns often involve multiple trips by oil-fueled transport, packaging, and processing, increasing emissions by 25-30%. Many returned items, especially low-value goods, are not resold but sent to landfills or recycling, amplifying waste. Companies hesitate to resell damaged or less desirable items due to reputational risks and costs, leading to more waste and environmental harm. Consumers can mitigate this by returning items quickly, avoiding damage, and reusing packaging. In-person shopping remains more sustainable, with lower return rates and better resale prospects, reducing landfill waste and emissions.
What the papers say
The New York Post and AP News both report on the rising return rates and their environmental costs, emphasizing that roughly a third of returns do not reach other consumers due to damage or low resale value. AP News highlights the economic and logistical costs for retailers, while The Independent and NY Post focus on consumer uncertainty and the higher return rates for clothing and footwear. Both sources agree that the environmental footprint of returns is significant, with AP News noting that returning an item increases its impact on the planet by 25-30%. The articles collectively underscore the need for better return management and consumer awareness to reduce ecological harm.
How we got here
The rise in holiday returns is driven by consumer uncertainty, especially with online shopping where fit and color are hard to judge from images. Retailers have extended return windows and increased staff to manage the surge, but returns still pose environmental challenges due to repeated shipping, packaging, and disposal processes.
Go deeper
- What can consumers do to reduce the environmental impact of returns?
- How are retailers managing the surge in holiday returns?
- Will online shopping continue to increase return rates?
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Blue Yonder is an American software and consultancy company, providing supply chain management, manufacturing planning, retail planning, store operations and category management offerings headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona.
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The National Retail Federation is the world's largest retail trade association. Its members include department stores, specialty, discount, catalog, Internet, and independent retailers, chain restaurants, grocery stores, and multi-level marketing companie