Implementing a sustainable and efficient packaging system for e-commerce : an empirical perspective in the household sector

Purpose: The growing importance of e-commerce has negative effects on the sustainability of supply chains, highlighting the need for appropriate packaging system design. Thus, it is increasingly common to see cities where thousands of packages are delivered every day, increasing congestion and pollution, but also increasing the consumption of materials and generation of waste, because these packages are often oversized. Therefore, retailers should consider different strategies for reducing the sustainable impact of their activities. In this context, the main objective of this article is to understand, illustrate and compare the solutions adopted in the e-commerce packaging, measuring their impact on sustainability, and paying a special attention to household products. Design/methodology/approach: To achieve this main purpose, firstly a conceptual description of the problems associated with this design process is developed. This fist part is followed by a field study using a sample of twelve orders to analyse and compare the efficiency and sustainability of the packaging system for e-commerce adopted in the household products. Findings: The results of the analysis show not only the diversity of packaging solutions adopted by each retailer analysed, but also their inefficiencies and the opportunities for improvement from an economic and environmental perspective, particularly regarding the selection and quantity of materials, as well as the volumes of the external packaging. This last aspect seems to be the differential factor for the best retailers. Originality/value: Design decisions in e-commerce packaging systems have a direct impact on the consumption of materials (and waste), as well as an indirect impact on the efficiency of many logistics operations, in particular, last-mile transport. Despite this importance, however, little academic attention has been paid to this field, particularly with the applied approach proposed in this article and combining economic and environmental perspectives.