Are Online Shopping Returns Creating an Environmental Disaster? 

Our shopping habits have changed. Instead of going to the local shopping mall, many of us are turning to the internet to make our purchases. We are able to get anything that we need, from food to furniture, clothing to cars. As a result this part of our economy has grown exponentially, as can be seen in companies such as Amazon. 

One of the unfortunate consequences of this change in the way that we shop has been the closure of many of our well known and well-loved chain stores and also smaller local stores in malls and on the high street across the country.

What Is the Downside of Online Shopping?

• We are never 100% sure that the product we have bought will live up to expectations.
  This is especially true with regard to clothing which is the most likely item to be returned. There is no consistency with regards to sizing across the brands and coupled with the fact that most online stores offer free deliveries and free returns on their purchases, people end up buying an item in different sizes or colourways, as the ones that are not suitable can easily be returned.

• Studies show that goods bought online are more likely to be returned than items bought in a store.
  In fact, 4 times more likely to be returned, because of the policies of free deliveries and free returns.

We Need to Be Aware of What Happens to These Returns

Most of us manage our everyday waste disposal responsibly, by recycling and reusing where we can. We are aware of the need to minimize the trash we send to our landfills, and how important it is to curb our carbon footprint. We use professional waste and junk removal companies such as Little Green Junk when we need household or yard waste removed, as we know they dispose of this waste in a responsible manner thus preserving our environment.

We, therefore, need to be aware that our online shopping habits can undo any of the positive actions that we carry out in our daily lives.

• Do you know that much of what we return from our online orders get dumped into a landfill somewhere? Many of these items that are returned are destined to be disposed of this way without ever even being used.
• These returned items are often shipped around the country a few times thus increasing their carbon footprint.
• Scarce natural resources are used in the manufacture of these products.
• The dyes used for textiles can be toxic and will leach into the water systems and surrounding soil systems from the landfills. These can cause damage to the immediate environment and can also be harmful to the local population.

What Is the Solution?

There are many different solutions that are being worked on because our shopping habits are not going to change, so the quantity of returns will only increase. We have to find ways to lessen the impact of these returns

• Amazon, which accounts for nearly half of all online sales worldwide, has huge numbers of returns. Instead of throwing them away, they encourage their third-party sellers to donate their returns or excess stock to organisations that will donate to deserving causes and charities in an effort to keep these out of our landfills. The types of items included in this program include clothing, household goods, and school supplies.
• Amazon also sells returns to e-commerce liquidation websites such as liquidation.com. These items can then be sold on to customers at bargain prices.
• There are virtual try-on apps such as Bigthinx to help you make your choice by measuring you and comparing you to the items you wish to buy. This is to cut back on clothing returns.
• There are online platforms that assist companies to resell their returned and overstocked items. Blinq.com is one of these. These platforms are estimated that they could help reduce this particular landfill waste problem by up to 70%.
• Governments in parts of the world have begun legislating against the destruction and disposal of items that can still be used. An example of this is the French government with their legislation that prevents the destruction of items including electronics, cosmetics, and clothing. French luxury brands were particularly known for destroying returned items of clothing, perfumes, and watches, to protect their brand names and their intellectual property.

We expect famous brands and large manufacturers to be responsible in the way they deal with their online returns. But it is not only up to them as every online shopper needs to play their part too.  We need to be aware of what is likely to happen to our returns when we shop online, find that our purchase isn’t what we expected, and then send it back.

What Can You Do?

• How do you deal with the packaging that your online purchases are delivered in? Your items are sent to you packed in such a way as to minimize damage, and often the amounts used to feel a bit excessive. Be sure to recycle any cardboard, plastic, or bubble wrap.
• Use any help you can find online when purchasing clothing so that you can be assured that the item of clothing you choose is the correct size. This will minimize your returns.

Little Green Junk, PA - Professional Junk Removal Company

We are a professional junk removal company that can assist you with reaching your goal of recycling your trash. 

We will remove any household or yard trash, as well as any excessive packaging that has accumulated from your online shopping. We recycle where possible and only use the landfill as a last resort. Consider us as a partner in your efforts to reduce your carbon footprint.

We can collect your junk after hours and at weekends and even offer a same-day junk removal service. 

Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote and indicate the pick-up times that will fit in with your schedule. 

Call us at the following number: 717 988 0997. 

We look forward to hearing from you.

Email: inquiries@littlegreenjunk.com

www.littlegreenjunk.com