Big Ideas: “How we can eliminate single use packaging” with Mike Newman, CEO of Returnity…

Everybody loves the convenience of ecommerce — and everybody loves complaining about the mountains of shipping packaging it creates. In that tension is our opportunity: eliminating single-use packaging that is expensive, cumbersome, and bad for the planet. We’ve done that by developing light, durable, easy-to-use bags and boxes to replace cardboard... See more

Returnity is solving for the increased focus on circular shipping models, consumer attention to sustainability, and brands sensitivity to a differentiated customer experience. We will displace the use of over 1 million cardboard boxes and poly mailer bags in 2019 — and 10 million+ in 2020.

Switching from cardboard and poly mailer bags to reusable packaging leads to a significant reduction in natural resource consumption. More fundamentally, it helps reinforce the necessary move away from a single-use to a circular economy.

Companies need to empower their supply chain and purchasing teams to adopt innovative new packaging models.

Convenience always comes at a cost. If one impact of the switch to reusable packaging is the perception that online shopping can be guilt-free, it might encourage a move away from bulk buying.