The Impact of Swiss Consumers’ Parcel Returns on the Environment and Economy: Exploring Solutions

2023-11-01 11:34:55

Swiss consumers are Europe’s parcel return champions. More than a quarter of orders return to the sender. This indecision of the Helvetii worries federal elected officials.

A committee of the Council of States wants to look into the quantity of orders returned by Swiss consumers. The impact of online commerce, mainly clothing that can be returned for free, raises questions because of its ecological impact.

When a customer returns clothing shipped from abroad, this return emits CO2. In addition, these clothes must be cleaned and reconditioned. Sometimes they are completely destroyed, because it is more economically advantageous.

>> Read regarding it: Zalando returns policy called into question

These practices are particularly common in Switzerland. The carrier DPD estimates that, in our country, more than one in four parcels is returned. This is twice as much as in the rest of Europe.

The role of the State in question

This ecological impact worries Jura socialist State Councilor Mathilde Crevoisier-Crelier. “The volumes that are affected are enormous. The number of clothes thrown away, then exported to other countries, are considerable. Where they land, they also pose problems,” she explained on Wednesday in La Matinale de la RTS. According to her, as an actor in society, the State must address this issue.

The economic question also worries elected officials, because these returns have a cost: even if they are not directly paid for, they are passed on to suppliers and therefore, ultimately, to consumers, including those who do not return their items. orders.

>> Listen to the interview with Mathilde Crevoisier-Crelier in La Matinale: A tax to limit parcel returns?: interview with Mathilde Crevoisier-Crelier / La Matinale / 60 sec. / today at 06:28

Tax or raise awareness?

To limit this practice, the Council of States commission mentions incentives, for example a tax.

A principle which does not convince Jacques Bourgeois, still a Friborg PLR national advisor for a few weeks: “I think there are other possibilities. We can also raise a little awareness among people who are fans of these online purchases so that they take take these considerations into account. It will be up to the new Parliament to decide whether it wants to follow this idea.

>> Listen to Jacques Bourgeois: A tax to limit parcel returns?: interview with Jacques Bourgeois / La Matinale / 60 sec. / today at 06:23

Radio subject: Philéas Authier
Adaptation web: Miroslav Mares

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