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Consumers favour reusable packaging for e-commerce

A brief survey shows that the reusable shipping quota of 50 per cent currently planned in the EU packaging regulation would be possible from 2040. 

The results of a short survey conducted by Civey on behalf of the German E-Commerce and Distance Selling Trade Association show that the reusable shipping quota of 50 per cent currently planned in the EU packaging regulation would theoretically be possible in Germany from 2040. 

Just over 1,000 people took part in the survey and one in two buyers would buy a Favour reusable packaging over a conventional disposable carton. When asked whether they would prefer cardboard boxes or plastic bags or reusable packaging for shipping online orders, if such solutions were available, 36.2 per cent of customers would „definitely“ prefer them and a further 13.8 per cent would „somewhat“ prefer them.“ decide in favour of returnable shipping. This contrasts with only 11.7 per cent who „definitely“ want to continue to be supplied with conventional packaging and a further 13.1 per cent who „rather“ want to continue to be supplied with conventional packaging. A quarter of respondents (25.2 per cent) were „undecided“.

The Potential savings on packaging material in online retail are enormous. If the use of reusable shipping solutions is possible, new types of shipping bags and boxes can be used for 20 and more runs up to 98 per cent less CO2-equivalents than with conventional disposable cardboard packaging.

Not without inhibitions

However, the switch to reusable packaging is not without its inhibitions for most people. In most cases, reusable is associated with a Additional costs for consumers who have to return the shipping bags and boxes to a collection point after receiving the goods, possibly against a deposit. When asked whether consumers are prepared to regularly return reusable packaging for the sake of sustainability, only a quarter (23.8 per cent) responded in the affirmative, while almost half (44.8 per cent) are „undecided“. The differences in age are striking: the lowest level of approval for the return of reusable packaging was among respondents aged 18 to 29, and the highest among 30 to 39-year-olds.

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„If we want to achieve the European reusable targets in the next 16 years, we need to activate today's 18 to 29-year-olds, who will make up the largest group of buyers by 2040 and are the least willing to participate today.“

Alien Mulyk, Head of Public Affairs for Europe and International Affairs at the bevh

In order for the return to meet with greater acceptance, the Making people more aware of reusable shipping and the return in everyday life should be as low-threshold as possible. However, Alien Mulyk believes that not all options have been exhausted by any means. „It's not enough that reusable shipping is only being promoted by online retailers and the providers of reusable bags and boxes. Efforts must also be made by consumer representatives and the logistics industry. come. Politicians must also do more than just impose quotas. It must create appropriate standards and incentives - including across borders - so that reusable systems work.“ In the end, there should not be a multitude of individual solutions, but rather a Cross-provider system, which enables customers to return any reusable packaging without any major effort or hurdles.

Source: German E-Commerce and Mail Order Association. 

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