Ever wonder what is happening when we are ordering our products online? It’s adding to the garbage stuff other than product we are getting.
When we order online, product/parcel is wrapped and packed in multiple layers of covers. It includes tales, wrappers, plastic sheets, cardboard, air bubble wrap, sometimes gift wrap and on top online store wrapper along with original/actual cardboard covering containing product. When same thing is purchased from offline/brick and mortar store then we generally get it in original cardboard covering containing product and a carry bag. There is much difference in online and offline packing content. Another thing to note here is that additional carry bag being used in offline case can be further used at home/office for day to day purposes but the additional packing material in online purchase generally is not used as we tear it off while opening the packet/parcel.
To add to this, an online order with multiple items is sometimes shipped separately. And when these are not shipped together then we have multiple times of waster packing material. This could be made a part of some research on calculating how much additional paper, cardboard is being added to garbage everyday on an average. Can it be reduced and if yes, then how online stores could minimize this.
We are talking of swachch abhiyaan. Though it would be duty of customer to effectively dispose off this garbage. But to reduce the garbage in first place would be a key step.