Circular economy implications for e-commerce - an example of individual returnable packing

• Autorzy: Bukowska-Piestrzyńska Agnieszka

Identyfikatory

DOI

10.29119/1641-3466.2023.169.10

• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Purpose: Circular economy affects the need for changes in the area of packaging in e-commerce. The article demonstrates the results of the research conducted in the field of expectations regarding the features of the packaging already present on the e-commerce market in accordance with the circular economy model as well as those concerning the online buyers’ expectations regarding the parameters of packaging currently available and planned to be introduced - reusable unit packaging. Design/methodology/approach: A review of the selected literature enabled the depiction of the essence of the circular economy and its implications for the functioning of packaging in e-commerce. Own research was conducted using the survey method - the questionnaire in an electronic form was made available from 04 May to 26 June 2021. 1213 respondents from all over the country took part in the survey. Findings: Effective implementation of circular economy entails the introduction of modifications in each link of the supply chain - including packaging used in e-commerce and reverse logistics, i.e., employment of returnable packaging. This will require the cooperation of product manufacturers with packaging producers, logistics operators and transport companies servicing the last mile, and consequently the creation of new business models in supply chains that require close cooperation in the handling of returnable unit packaging. Research limitations/implications: Since the selection of the sample for the study was non¬random - the snowball method was used, the study itself is unrepresentative and the results cannot be generalized to the entire population of Poland. Research on the implementation of returnable unit packaging in e-commerce should be continued in the light of the circular economy requirements. Practical implications: Study results enable the indication of the features of the returnable unit packaging in e-commerce indicated as important by the respondents, mainly: the material of the packaging (degradable, biodegradable or recyclable); reusability; protection against external factors (including unauthorized opening); packaging size that corresponds to the size of the product; how the product is packaged and the type of closure (e.g. ease of opening); resilience. The respondents see the need to introduce returnable packaging in e-commerce. Social implications: The new social (influence on customer behavior to return packaging) and institutional (redesign of supply chains to improve reverse logistics) conditions will be required to introduce the returnable unit packaging in e-commerce, but then it may contribute to e.g., waste and carbon footprint reduction. Originality/value: The article draws attention to a very narrow section of the circular economy model which covers the reusable unit packaging that can be used in e-commerce (to reduce the scale of packaging waste production in Poland/Europe). The results of the research may be cognitively interesting for the entities that operate on the e-commerce market - both producers of goods and logistics operators.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

circular economy; reverse logistics; returnable packaging

PL

gospodarka o obiegu zamkniętym; logistyka odwrócona; opakowanie zwrotne

• Wydawca: Wydawnictwo Politechniki Śląskiej
• Czasopismo: Zeszyty Naukowe. Organizacja i Zarządzanie / Politechnika Śląska
• Rocznik: 2023
• Tom: z. 169
• Strony: 173--184
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 21 poz.

Twórcy

autor

Bukowska-Piestrzyńska Agnieszka

• University of Lodz

• https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0088-2352

Bibliografia

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• 2. Coelho, P.M., Corona, B., ten Klooster, R., Worrell, E. (2020). Sustainability of reusable packing - Current situation and trends. Resources, Conservation & Recycling: X, Vol. 6, 100037.
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Uwagi

Opracowanie rekordu ze środków MNiSW, umowa nr SONP/SP/546092/2022 w ramach programu "Społeczna odpowiedzialność nauki" - moduł: Popularyzacja nauki i promocja sportu (2024).