Retail and e-commerce – October 2024

Developments in retail
The European E-commerce Report 2024 (light version, 2.73 MB) published by EuroCommerce, shows that the B2C e-commerce sector experienced a modest growth of 3% in 2023, up from 2% in 2022, with nominal turnover increasing from €864 billion to €887 billion, and inflation declining from 8.5% to 6.1%. Despite overall nominal growth, the e-commerce landscape shows significant regional disparities.

Reusable packaging supply chain impact
A report by Zero Waste Europe shows the course of action for public authorities to maximise the environmental and economic benefits of reuse systems. Switching to these systems may reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 54% in Aarhus and 34% in Berlin, according to the report (2.5 MB).
Researchers from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel research have assessed the carbon footprint of reusable packaging in e-commerce. Findings highlight three specific influencing factors: packaging material, return and reuse rate, and supply chain design. Most of the analysed solutions were more environmentally friendly than a cardboard box when they reached 10% of their estimated life cycle. The study (2.23 MB) is published in the Journal of Cleaner Production.
A Lund University study explores the circular last mile for home deliveries of food and groceries using a design science approach. The study (4.24 MB) is published in The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research.
A Delft University of Technology study (503 kB) entitled ‘How Many Times Should I Use My Reusable Packaging? Exploring the Role of an Environmental Break-Even Point in Shaping Consumers’ Intention to Reuse’, is published in Circular Economy and Sustainability.
An IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute study (370 kB) evaluates research on the lifecycle cost analysis (LCCA) of reusable packaging systems in various retail sectors. Key findings indicate that, with effective logistics management, reusable packaging typically achieves significant long-term cost savings.

Consumer behaviour
The Future Shopper 2024 report by VML provides a view into the online shopping trends of shoppers today and in the future, including why spending habits are changing and what to expect as we shift towards a world where physical and digital merge. You can download the report after filling in your details.
An IZNE study (503 kB) entitled ‘Should My Take-Away Packaging Be Reusable? An Empirical Study Of Consumer Behaviour Towards Returnable Food Packaging In Germany’ is published in the Journal of Food System Dynamics. The results indicate that despite the high frequency of takeaway food orders in Germany, consumers' use of reusable packaging systems still needs to be improved.
A Universitas Indonesia study explores the determinants of consumer purchase intentions in cleaning product refill facilities to reduce single-use plastic packaging waste. The results show that the purchase intention to refill cleaning products are influenced by customers environmental consciousness, subjective norms, and green marketing. The study (943 kB) is published in the Jurnal Teknik Industri.
 

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