We live in a globalized world, where consumption habits have been constantly changing. It is a fact that during the Covid-19 pandemic, many consumers drastically altered their purchasing methods, shifting from traditional physical shopping to a virtual or online format. This change in consumer purchasing behavior has required adaptations in the logistics sector. Logistics operators, who were accustomed to bulk deliveries before the pandemic, now have to handle increasingly fragmented deliveries to cater to individual consumers shopping online, known as e-commerce.
In this context, one relevant item comes into play: packaging. Bulk deliveries use a certain amount of packaging, but when deliveries are fragmented, the amount of packaging multiplies exponentially. It is very common, when receiving a product purchased online, to notice the excessive amount of packaging materials, including cardboard, bubble wrap, and other materials. To protect the products as much as possible during the logistics process, distributors often overdo it, especially for small-volume items. If you buy a small perfume bottle, for example, the packaging that arrives at your residence could likely accommodate a wine bottle.
This approach to packaging for e-commerce deliveries is not a ‘privilege’ of Brazil. It has been happening worldwide. According to a BBC article from June 2024, Nicole Rycroft, executive director of the environmental organization Canopy—which works with companies to preserve endangered forests—stated, ‘In the early days of e-commerce, products had seven times more packaging than those bought in physical stores.’ ‘Now, it’s about four and a half times, but excessive packaging is still a big issue.’
According to Edrone, in 2024, e-commerce in Brazil surpassed 200 billion in revenue, with an average ticket of nearly R$ 500.00 and over 90 million online buyers. Thus, it continues the growth trend seen in previous years. These numbers further amplify the amount of packaging consumed—and yet to be consumed—if the logic of ‘the bigger the packaging, the better the results’ persists.
Some pertinent questions: If packaging contributes to logistics costs, why waste the opportunity to reduce them? Another question: With so much technology embedded in logistics processes, shouldn’t we expect optimization in packaging usage?
Among the possible reasons for excessive packaging usage are the difficulty in unitizing and transporting small items. It’s also worth noting that, despite available technology, due to demands for faster deliveries and challenges in demand forecasting, operations often have to ‘make do’ with what is available—and, of course, nothing beats an oversized family-sized package!
E-commerce cannot be held solely responsible for all the waste generated from its packaging. However, companies in the sector must seek sustainable alternatives to address this issue.
