Retail and e-commerce – February 2023

Developments in retail
For the report ‘Future 2043’, Springwise asked futurists to describe the solutions, innovations, and surroundings we might experience as we head towards 2043. You can download the report after filling in your details.
A recent trend report by Euromonitor shows that consumers are spending responsibly but emotionally. The role of digitisation in purchasing processes, female equality demands and a disruptive Gen Z are some of the factors that will define global consumer trends in 2023. You can receive the report by e-mail after filling in your details.
A survey by CI&T indicates a desire for a customer experience that is convenient, efficient, and aligned with current shopping habits. Consumers are hopping between channels in the ways that work best for them.

E-commerce and returns
The European Commission (170 kB) has published a report (1.87 MB) on the role of e-commerce in implementing the European Green Deal. The report gives recommendations for future action.
L.E.K. Consulting has published an article about e-commerce packaging optimisation strategies. As fulfilment operations expand to keep up with increasing order volume, the impact of inefficiencies has become significant. Another recent L.E.K. Consulting article discusses brand trends and their impact on packaging demand, changes to packaging materials and the implications of e-commerce on packaging.
PwC has published their Retail Monitor 2023, which focuses on last-mile delivery. In home delivery, accuracy is more important than speed, retailers and consumers alike believe. 60% of the retailers indicate that accuracy is top priority for them. Speed is most important for 19% of retailers surveyed.
For e-commerce companies, it is cheaper to throw away returned items rather than selling them again. In a new study, researchers at Lund University interviewed members of the textile and electronics industries in Europe, hoping to better understand a problem that is snowballing, yet has been the subject of little research. An article (944 kB) about the research is published in Sustainable Production and Consumption.
According to a Sendcloud report, high shipping costs are reason for the majority of consumers (57%) to abandon a purchase. You can download the report after filling in your details.
Wuunder has published a report showing that the vast majority of Dutch consumers say they will order less online if shipping costs keep rising. You can download the report after filling in your details (in Dutch).

Take-out food packaging
Thuisbezorgd (in Dutch) has presented its annual report (in Dutch, 16.7 MB) with the latest trends on taste, restaurants and online food ordering in the Dutch market. Environmental awareness, origin and sustainability of products and packaging play a more important role in the choice process.
A VAMK thesis (1.4 MB) by An Tran Van entitled ‘The importance of take-out food packaging’ has been published.
 

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