Where Do Our Online Shopping Returns End Up?
Online shopping has become an instinctive habit for many of us; it’s easy to find trendy pieces for our wardrobes conveniently on our screens. With just a few clicks, we can explore thousands of collections from the comfort of our couches. If something doesn’t fit–return it.
Companies have influenced our online shopping habits, offering easy return policies. As a result, it has become common practice to purchase multiple sizes or colors, knowing we can easily send back what we don’t need. In an episode of NPR’s TED Radio Hour, Aparna Mehta, a busy working mom, admitted to receiving 12-15 clothing deliveries each week. She initially didn’t think twice about this habit, stating, “I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong.” However, she later realized the environmental impact of her shopping habits due to the massive amount of packaging waste accumulating at her door. “There were packages showing up almost every day… so much cardboard,” she remarked.
As shoppers have shifted online, the number of returns has surged. Amanda Mull, a senior reporter at Bloomberg Businessweek, pointed out that while returns made in stores are typically in the single digits, online returns can be as high as 30%; during peak times, it can reach 50%, resulting in a burden on retailers who have to process those returns, often incurring considerable costs in shipping, restocking, and inspecting the items. Mull highlights a staggering statistic: “Last year, one retailer had 7.5 million pieces of clothing returned.” Tons of clothes circulate the supply chains, but not all make it to the shelves.
According to Mull, the United States alone is responsible for 11 million tons of textile waste annually. Even when clothes are returned, they often can’t be resold. If it’s been worn, they’re typically sent to outlets or—more commonly—destroyed. “If there’s any indication that something has been worn, it is very hard to resell anything,” she explained.
What Can Be Done to Help?
We can start by making intentional purchases. Take the time to carefully consider each item before buying. Ask yourself: Can this piece of clothing be styled into at least five different outfits? By prioritizing the sustainability of your clothing choices, you can minimize the need for returns and reduce waste.
Another option to consider is purchasing second-hand clothing. Mull suggests, “When you decide you want or need something, try to buy it second-hand.” Buying second-hand helps reduce the demand for clothing production, a large contributor to textile waste. When demand for new clothing decreases, supply naturally decreases as well. This downward shift can help alleviate the strain of overproduction on the environment.
Online shopping isn’t going away, but with small steps, we can make more eco-conscious choices to reduce waste and decrease the carbon footprint of our shopping sprees.
Sources
Constable, Harriet. “Your Brand New Returns End up in Landfill.” BBC Earth, www.bbcearth.com/news/your-brand-new-returns-end-up-in-landfill. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Paul, Pamela. “When You Return Those Pants, There’s a Price You Don’t See.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 11 Jan. 2024, www.nytimes.com/2024/01/11/opinion/online-shopping-return-environment.html.
Vasil, Adria. “Report: Many Returned Products Thrown out Instead of Resold.” NPR, NPR, 29 Dec. 2019, www.npr.org/2019/12/29/792146756/report-many-returned-products-thrown-out-instead-of-resold.
ZOMORODI, MANOUSH. “What Really Happens to the Clothes We Send Back.” NPR, NPR, 6 Sept. 2024, www.npr.org/transcripts/g-s1177-20990#:~:text=ZOMORODI%3A%20After%20that%2C%20sometimes%20clothes,sometimes%20in%20their%20original%20packaging.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect nor represent the Earth Chronicles and its editorial board.
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