Few days back I received a home delivery of books which I ordered from Amazon for my daughter. Out of 6 thin books it was delivered in three separate delivery. I loved it as it arrived in good condition and me and my daughter looked into it with a happy smile but then looked into the packaging waste I dumped in the dry waste bucket. It was more in volume and probably weight as well. Just pondered what have I done. At one side I am looking for a bright future of my daughter and on the other side leaving a world which is liveable enough? I am sure I am not alone in sharing the same guilt.
We are already seeing the impact of it like Delhi pollution fog. Garbage problem in Bangalore.
There was an interesting video about a Strawberry packet, showing that for every single small thing we use how much fuel and energy, time, effort we consume has gone into it. Also along with how much waste we generate how much impact it has in environment.
Now if you think of items which are packaged in multiple layers of packaging. Think of delivery of small hair gel or cosmetics item, coming in big boxes, ridiculously waste of resources.
I am not really sure that how this problem could be or should be solved, because of so many things associated with it. A completely well established system is behind these, but it has to be improvised. And I appreciate efforts people are already making towards environment. I really like the way BigBasket.com is operating and contributing towards Swachh-Bharat. They don’t use second layer of packaging at all and deliver in crates. Many countries are already doing much for recycling like:
1. Sweden’s move to encourage recycling effectively Sweden Promotes Repair. They are promoting repairs of items by providing tax benefit. This aims for REUSE and REDUCE
2. Liked the way many countries recycle packaging like bottles, cans etc. During my stay in Helsinki, Finland I had never thrown any can or bottle in dust bin as they had proper recycling system in place with return benefit. Why those are not here in India??
3. An excellent article how different countries are reducing waste 7 practices we should adopt from other countries
e-Commerce has really helped us to ease our life like anything and gave us freedom to get what we want. But at the same time we need to be aware the implications of it and start working on it before its too late.
My thoughts below how we can reduce the e-Commerce packaging waste:
1- Reduce multiple layer of packaging as much as possible except for fragile object if needed.
2- Promote customers for return of packaging for re-use for future packaging.
3- Consumers can also try using Carton boxes for storing stuff at home, instead of buying separate plastic boxes etc for storage. I find these carton boxes very good for segregating and storing stuff.
Would love to see more Ideas dropping in, also request e-Commerce companies to take a leap on it…
1 One possible way is to reuse. When you receive the item from online portal via delivery guy it will be great if delivery guy takes back the carton from you.
2 If you buy product from same online site like amazon / firstcry/ babyoye, we should be able to send these packaging back to them for reuse. I have 3-4 ways for this. Online sites can give coupon codes in lieu of such packaging.
3 Tie up between online site, customer and local packaging units. Once you receive these things, you should be able to drop them to near by packaging unit where they can recycle it. If there is tie up between 3 entities mentioned by me earlier, it will be game change.
These are very valid points Vishrut because if we the E-commerce sites can reuse the same packing again it would have 2 fold advantages. On one hand old packing is getting utilised and secondly lesser amount of new packing would be used and hence less resources wasted on it’s creation…
Yes and it will save resources at all front. For example I buy a product which is quick selling, same packaging can be used as it is when another buyer buys it and shipper use packaging returned by me. Also when the online company takes back the packaging, there carbon footprint will be less which can help them to promote there support for eco friendliness.
Please launch an online petition against e-commerce companies and the pizza and burger giants. Instead of using washable plates, they provide the same home delivery card board boxes even inside their restaurants. If this is being recycled by them, it may make sense. But the e-commerce companies are definitely not recycling as this packaging is left at the customer’s house.
yeah that a nice way to get this issue the due attention of people and the E-commerce sites..
write to Amazin or return it to courier, fr reuse
yes Priya I am planning to write these sites and ask for a solution and action plan
We can check with all leading brands and i am sure there will be common packaging agencies for these e retailers.
Sometime back there was a video available n popular on social media where they used empty cartons to make school bag cum desk for children. We could through about it but it require recycling however for most of the products from e retailers, packaging can be reused for sure.
I am glad you brought this up on your blog Swati Singh. I have been thinking about this since quite a few years now, ever since I started ordering from firstcry for my first baby. And because I cannot really influence the way online products are packaged, I try to upcycle the boxes, plastic bags etc as part of the Sanak initiative. Cardboard boxes can be upcycled in many ways, bubble wraps and other plastics can be made into bags or reused as it is. I am just wondering how to upcycle the airfills that are now being used in most packages… I have a lot of them by now (coz I am mad, I don’t throw anything away!) your post has inspired me to come up with a solution for them as well…