Plastic pollution is an urgent environmental crisis. According to Statista data, global production of plastics reached a staggering 400.3 million metric tons in 20221. This material ends up in landfill – or worse, the oceans – where it takes decades to break down. Every business has a responsibility to choose sustainable alternative materials for their packaging. Making the switch will help your business reach its own green logistics targets, too.
Your current (and future) customers are paying attention. E-commerce consumers are increasingly concerned with the impact of their purchasing habits – with the packaging and delivery of their orders attracting particular attention. In DHL’s Global Shopper Survey 2023, 72% of consumers said they would be prepared to pay extra for sustainable packaging (44% “sometimes”; 28% “always”).
Governments are tightening their rules. In an effort to tackle the plastic crisis, the European Parliament and Council recently agreed to draw up legislation requiring all packaging to be fully recyclable by 2030. With other countries likely to follow suit, businesses will be required to be compliant with new packaging regulations.