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Scientific Article details

Title The convenience economy: Product flows and GHG emissions of returned apparel in the EU
ID_Doc 26360
Authors Roichman, R; Sprecher, B; Blass, V; Meshulam, T; Makov, T
Title The convenience economy: Product flows and GHG emissions of returned apparel in the EU
Year 2024
Published
DOI 10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.107811
Abstract Each year, consumers return billions of new products to retailers. Despite growing concern over product destruction, post-return product flows are not well understood, and the full lifecycle environmental impacts of returns remain largely unknown. Building on a unique dataset covering over 630k returned apparel items in the EU, we map the flow of returned products under sustainable and conventional management practices, and quantify the full lifecycle impacts associated with returns using two illustrative apparel case studies. We find that 22%-44% of returned products never reach another consumer. Moreover, the GHG emissions associated with the production and distribution of unused returns can be 2-16 times higher than all post-return transport, packaging, and processing emissions combined. Our findings suggest that the environmental impacts eCommerce and specifically online apparel, may be systematically underestimated when returns are not accounted for, and highlight the urgent need to promote circular management practices that maximize use of returned products.
Author Keywords eCommerce; Consumer returns; Textile destruction; GHG emissions; Online shopping; Apparel; Circular Economy
Index Keywords Index Keywords
Document Type Other
Open Access Open Access
Source Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
EID WOS:001285134300001
WoS Category Engineering, Environmental; Environmental Sciences
Research Area Engineering; Environmental Sciences & Ecology
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