This study aligns with the EU’s goals for a circular economy by examining the environmental impacts of single-use and multiple-use packaging in sectors like hotels, restaurants, and catering, including products such as beverage containers and trays. Using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) models, it compares environmental outcomes across six case studies in four scenarios. The findings show that environmental impacts vary by packaging type and reuse frequency, with single-use packaging having lower climate impacts in some cases, while reusable options often excel in water use and broader ecological impact categories.
A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Electronic Retail of Household Products
The paper examines the environmental impact of parcel delivery in the context of online shopping for household and hygiene products. Using real-world data from a major retailer in the Czech Republic, it evaluates the life cycle environmental effects of two types of parcel packaging. The study found that using plastic cushions to protect goods is more environmentally friendly than using paper. However, the main source of environmental burden is electricity consumption in logistics centres, highlighting the need for energy efficiency and better space utilisation. The research also explored the potential benefits of using reusable plastic crates instead of cardboard boxes, showing that this could reduce environmental impact. The paper underscores the significance of logistics and product distribution in the growing field of online retail, particularly for household goods.
Single-use vs. reusable packaging in e-commerce: comparing carbon footprints and identifying break-even points
This paper analyses the environmental impact of reusable shipping packaging compared to single-use alternatives in e-commerce, focusing on carbon emissions. It takes into account the growth of online retail due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It evaluates a reusable polypropylene (PP) box and a reusable shipping bag, comparing them with single-use low-density polyethylene (LDPE) bags. The reusable shipping bag showed advantages after a few cycles, depending on the use of recycled materials, while the PP box required 32–81 cycles to break even in terms of CO2 emissions. The study’s carbon footprint comparison shows that reusable packaging is environmentally advantageous if it is reused often enough. To achieve this, however, political and economic incentives seem necessary.
E-commerce in Europe
PostNord has studied the European e-commerce market in the E-commerce in Europe report since 2014. The report is based on interviews with a total of about 12,000 consumers in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the UK. The report takes into account the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the European e-commerce market while generally analysing e-commerce trends in Europe and the world in 2020.
Hot-spot Analysis of E-Commerce Logistic Chain: Single-Use vs Reusable Solutions
The hot-spot analysis is intended as an environmental meta-study and focuses on alternative options for e-commerce with the aim of identifying possible strategies for improvement/areas for innovation to reduce packaging impacts. This report investigates single-use (SU) and multiple-use (MU) packaging solutions. These two solutions could be made of different materials (e.g., corrugated board, plastic bags, rigid plastic crates, paper bags, flexible packaging). The main focus of this analysis is the e-commerce supply chain, such as information related to online shops (and platforms), automatisation of processes, digital purchasing, shipping of products, as well as other relevant aspects, such as product damage, packaging void, empty load transport, logistics, return transport or weight of the packaging.
Three years of research on reusable shipping packaging in e-commerce: lessons learned and outlook, Final Conference
The “praxPACK” project explored reusable packaging solutions for e-commerce over three years, aiming to reduce environmental impact. Key findings showed that while reusable packaging can lower waste and emissions, its adoption is hindered by high costs and inefficient return logistics. Collaborative return systems and standardisation across providers were identified as potential solutions. The pilot partners reported positive customer feedback but faced logistical challenges. The project calls for continued efforts toward shared return infrastructure and industry cooperation to make reusable packaging more feasible in e-commerce.
Documentation of Sustainability Claims. The methodology behind Re-Zip environmental calculation and reporting tool
This report explains RE-ZIP’s emissions calculation and reporting tool, used to assess the environmental impact of their reusable packaging solutions against single-use options made of plastic, paper, and cardboard. It describes the tool’s data sources, assumptions, and life cycle approach, detailing its alignment with ISO 14040/14044 standards and clarifying any deviations. The tool aims to provide transparency and accuracy in reporting emissions for RE-ZIP’s European take-back packaging schemes.
The Sustainable Reusable Shipping System for E-Commerce
The document from the company Hey Circle outlines a sustainable packaging solution for e-commerce. It emphasises reducing waste and CO₂ emissions by replacing traditional single-use cardboard packaging with reusable boxes and bags. These solutions aim to cut 94% of waste and 76% of CO₂ emissions over their lifecycle. hey circle also highlights the importance of high return rates for maximising environmental savings. The company’s goal is to establish reusable packaging as a global standard, replacing millions of single-use transport containers by 2024.
LCA on reuse of packaging in the Nordics – A case of comparing reusable alternatives to current disposable packaging
In an effort to facilitate a shift towards greater sustainability in the Nordics, this study provides an in-depth analysis of the environmental impacts associated with different types of packaging. Emphasis is placed on reusable packaging, investigating its lifecycle impacts from production to disposal and contrasting it with conventional, single-use packaging. The packaging solutions under investigation cover takeaway containers and e-commerce packaging. In the takeaway sector, these are one reusable and one single-use. In the e-commerce sector, these are one reusable and returnable packaging, as well as two single-use variants made from LDPE film and paper, respectively.
Vergleichende Ökobilanz verschiedener Bechersysteme beim Getränkeausschank an Veranstaltungen
The report evaluates the environmental impacts of various cup systems used at events, such as concerts or festivals. The study compares disposable cups made of different materials (plastic, paper, etc.) with reusable cups in terms of their life cycle impacts, including resource use, energy consumption, waste generation, and greenhouse gas emissions. The assessment considers various factors, such as the number of uses, transportation, cleaning processes, and end-of-life disposal or recycling options. The report aims to identify which cup systems are the most environmentally friendly, under which conditions they perform best, and offers recommendations for organisers on selecting the most sustainable options for beverage service at events, concluding that reusable cups generally have lower environmental impacts than single-use options.
