Reducing Retail's Carbon Footprint: A Comprehensive Analysis of Returns and Sustainability

In recent years, the retail industry has faced growing scrutiny over its environmental impact, particularly its contribution to carbon emissions. With the rise of fast fashion and disposable consumerism, the fashion industry has been labelled as one of the leading contributors to global emissions, accounting for approximately 10% of all emissions worldwide.

The retail industry is at a crossroads, faced with the pressing need to address its environmental footprint. Historically, consumers have been driven by a ‘buy more, buy cheap’ mentality, leading to a cycle of purchase, use, discard, and further pollution. This unsustainable approach has necessitated a paradigm shift.

This white paper delves into a critical aspect of the retail landscape – returns, and their carbon impact, supported by recent research that we conducted. We aim to shed light on why retailers must prioritize returns and provide a glimpse into the future of retail sustainability. Our research extends to understanding the changing dynamics of fashion sustainability and the evolving preferences of consumers.

Download this report to uncover:

• What customers want from a returns experience, and what compromises they would be happy to make in favor of sustainability.
• Consumer insights on who they believe is responsible for making returns more sustainable.
• What investments brands are making to address sustainability in their reverse supply chain.
• The current status of carrier sustainability.

Ready to dive into our comprehensive analysis of returns and sustainability? Download the report below.