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The fashion e-commerce business constitutes the largest portion of all e-commerce worldwide and is expected to grow 10% annually between 2021 and 2024. With the continuing popularity of online shopping, there has been a steady rise in the consumption of “one use” packaging. Recycling and reusable alternatives are both viable options that can drastically reduce waste.

People have been recycling rubber, steel, paper, and more for centuries. However, package recycling today is still not widespread due to some key logistical issues—packages need to be transported to the appropriate recycling drop-off location; there are relatively few accessible drop off locations; and packages consist of multiple materials that need to be separated.

Reusing packages was a common practice until the 1950’s when plastic became a cheaper alternative to glass and metal. Packaging that can be reused is often a better choice than recycling, however, reusable items tend to consume more resources in their initial production.

Reusable Packaging

offers a wide range of reusable customized packages which meets or exceeds the performance of single-use packaging. Their packages and boxes are guaranteed to last 40 shipments which is equal to 20 cycles. Today, over 500,000 shipments a month utilize Returnity’s reusable solutions.

The packages are made from rPET or PET fabrics (recycled or virgin polyester) and plastic corrugate. Returnity’s CEO, Michael Newman, says they are in the process of releasing a number of new material options—including natural fiber boxes co-developed with Stora Enso.

Newman says both the fabrics and plastic corrugate are water resistant, and incorporate additional design features such as seam and zipper covers for clients who need additional waterproofing.

Newman says labeling was one of the more complicated technical challenges they encountered in the development process. He explains that the labels needed to stay on throughout the shipping cycle, but then need to be removed quickly and easily for the next shipment. They offer four different labelling solutions: mailer bags, boxes, garment bags, and chrysalis bags. They are also testing a fifth labelling solution.

Keeping reusable packages in use is the key to cost effective success. Newman states that they help clients identify and prioritize segments of their supply chains that are highly circular already. He goes on to say that consumers are increasingly sensitive to environmental issues and are open to new approaches to shipping and receiving goods but achieving mass change is a long-term project. Reusables can replace tens of millions of single-use package shipments a year just by focusing on existing consumer behaviors.

Newman points out that numerous independent studies (including a recent study) conclude that reusable packaging offers clear environmental benefits to recyclable single-use alternatives—but only if it is, in fact, reused.

Compostable Packaging

. was co-founded by Kate Bezar and Rebecca Percasky. Alarmed by the packaging waste generated by the e-commerce business, they decided to design revolutionary customized solutions for a new circular economy in which generating waste is not an option.

They coined their venture—SWOP—Sustainable Way of Packaging. Their goal for the first phase of SWOP was to get a product to market that was heavy duty enough to be used multiple times but with minimal impact in sourcing and production. Bezar states that there is actually a lot more to a courier satchel than one might think. It must be tough, durable, waterproof, have strong seams, have a good resealable seal and labels that stick.

Percasky adds that finding something that met all the criteria, as well as having a low environmental footprint, was super tricky.

They looked at all four stages of the product lifecycle—material inputs, production, use, and end-of-life. They wanted to incorporate as high a percentage of renewable materials as possible and went to great lengths to do so.

Most SWOP packages are made completely from renewable and compostable materials. The materials are relatively lightweight—the overall weight of a parcel can add to cost. A special plant-based coating ensures labels stick well to the outer surface so that the bag seals securely with its courier label. For customers needing extra security, another version of a SWOP package has a Velcro strip to seal it.

At the end of the bags’ lifecycle, it needs to be composted. Bezar states that they understand that not everyone has a home composting system, so they created , a global network of collection points for compostable packaging.

In 2018, they introduced comPOST Packs, which are more like a traditional poly mailer and can be used at least twice. The packages are waterproof and certified home compostable. Percasky says that with over 60 million sold today, they’ve prevented the use of over 1000 tons of single use plastic bags—a number they are incredibly proud of.

Most recently, they have launched a new range of 100% waterproof recycled and recyclable packaging, coined Pollastic. Percasky says they are the first company in the world to make poly mailers, garment bags, general bags, rubbish bags, and more out of material that would otherwise be ocean-bound plastic pollution. They work with partners and communities in the world’s poorest and most polluted coastal regions; and pay workers a fair wage to clean up their beaches and rivers by collecting plastic pollution. Their goal is to convert pollution into packaging while cleaning up the oceans and helping to eradicate poverty.

Both Bezar and Percasky agree that one of the biggest challenges to creating sustainable packages is creating infrastructure. Unfortunately, the infrastructure and technology isn’t always in place for a re-usable model. It is important to ensure that introducing re-usable solutions doesn’t have more of a negative impact than what is already in place—a complete systems re-think is necessary.

For a re-usable courier satchel, the impact of returning needs to not be greater than the impact of using what is already in place. The infrastructure needs to be part of people’s lives to make it sustainable and workable, which is something they are working on in parallel to product innovation.

Conclusion

Changing consumer habits have created greater emphasis on e-commerce, with the result of radically increased quantities of mailing packaging. Kudos to companies that are making a choice to develop and implement new products that will ultimately reduce the negative environmental impact of “one use” packaging.

��ɫֱ�� the Author: Kim Anderson has worked in the textile industry for more than 25 years as a designer, product developer, educator, and researcher.