Zalando is trialling reusable packaging in four markets in the hope of cutting carbon dioxide emissions in packaging by up to 2%.
The four-week pilot will see 10,000 customers in Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark receiving their orders in reusable shipping bags from RePack, which can be used for multiple orders.
When receiving orders, customers will be asked to send the envelope back with the return label. From there the bag goes back to a central location and is then returned to a fulfilment centre.
The trial aims to test how easily this process can be integrated into existing logistics processes. The envelopes will ship from Zalando’s logistics centre near Stockholm. Despite this involving additional effort for customers, as they will have to take every package back to a postbox, Zalando believes that customers are willing to take actions to reduce the environmental impact of their daily lives.
Uwe Streiber, team warehouse consumables at Zalando, said: “To make the concept of reusable packaging scalable, the entire e-commerce industry is needed.
“It requires standardised processes and centralised delivery options for reusable packaging. Reusable packaging transforms material from waste to resource.
“A uniform system in which customers can return the packaging, for example to the supermarket, would make it easier for everyone.”
