Zalando to make ecommerce more environmentally friendly

Online shopping platform Zalando is looking to reduce waste and carbon dioxide emissions. Makeup products will now be shipped in paper bags instead of plastic, and the company is testing reusable packaging for returns, it announced on Wednesday. German newspaper Rheinische Post was the first to report the news.

“Customers will receive textiles or cosmetic products in a transport box or bag, which can then be used many more times for shipping or returns,” said Melanie Hultsch, senior corporate responsibility manager at Zalando.

Ecommerce must become more environmentally friendly, said board member David Schneider at the firm’s AGM in Berlin. This will be key to the company’s success.

However, in the last financial year Zalando saw average order values decline, triggering more shipments regardless of packaging. The company does not disclose data regarding returns.