Online returns harm the environment
Greenpeace has collected 145,000 signatures on a petition against online returns. The German environmental organisation believes that this is an issue of increasing concern. Greenpeace is calling for a ban on the destruction of fresh goods. They believe that the raw-material quality is still high enough and that people can still find ways to eat them. This is where Mr. Flasbart came in the picture. As a professional setter of deadlines, he was able to assess his surrounding and provide an assessment based on action. This includes rejecting medical treatments or using antibiotics. Other countries, such as France, are seeing success with having bans and regulations on food, but prefer to focus on textiles. The French government sees this practice is bearing fruit and wants to expand it.
The trends
Trends show that more and more people are shopping online – not just for clothes, but also for furniture, appliances, food. It’s definitely worth it! According to a report by Bitkom, around one in ten purchases are returned every year. Back in 2016 it was around one in eight, and then again 2018, but the number has gone up significantly. This can be attributed to new technologies that make returns easier.
Amazon stated that it can often buy back non-used products and repackage them. Some items may be offered at a discount before they are sold. When it comes to food, Amazon states that there is no way for customers to return unused food since the company does not accept returns on food.
Scandal of the destruction of goods
But Greenpeace does not agree, according to Viola Wolgemut. She is leading the campaign against the destruction of goods. “If storing goods is expensive for the merchants on Amazon, they can either return the goods or destroy them. Returning it is very expensive and then they have to find a new storage facility. Amazon offers merchants destruction of merchandise at very low prices and in this way also pushes for the destruction of brand new products.”
Many companies these days are trying to give their customers accurate and detailed information about their products so as to reduce the number of returns. They have started using 360° photos, videos and screenshots in a bid to do this.
Greenpeace believes that companies should be required to publish the methods they use to execute their products before they can sell. They believe it is more profitable for a company not to do this, which of course is just scandalous. “This means that the cost of production is extremely low. If you see that it costs two euros to sew a dress in Bangladesh and 60 per cent of the price is advertising, then we understand very well why all this happens.”
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Author: PC-GR
The World of Technology
