Ep 400: E-commerce returns and sustainability

Serial returners might think they are environmentally conscious, but new research shows they contribute a disproportionately high amount of emissions compared to other online shoppers. Assistant Professor Heleen Buldeo Rai from VUB Mobilise discusses: • Increasing purchases and increasing returns • The very high return rates for fashion • Higher returns online compared to in-store purchases • How to define "serial returners", including minimum threshold of purchases • Environmental awareness of serial returners • What causes serial returners to return goods bought online? • Does the e-commerce sector have to take responsibility for encouraging this behaviour? • Returns policies and consumer behaviour • What tools could e-commerce retailers use to reduce returns? • Retailer practices for resellable returned items • Resale potential of returned items • Sustainability implications of returns, and of serial return behaviour • The distances returned items have to travel • Serial returners are responsible for a disproportionate amount of emissions The research "Consumer heterogeneity behind e-commerce returns and emissions" can be downloaded via a link on the Postal Hub Podcast website - thepostalhub.com