50+ Online shopping packaging waste statistics that must change
Waste is defined as “unwanted or unusable material, substances, or by-products.” With the ever-increasing popularity of online shopping, the amount of waste due to single-use packaging material has inevitably risen.
The current narrative might seem grim, but we can change it. With the proper implementation of sustainable practices, we can decrease pollution and lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions — and keep the planet cooler for longer.
We’re sharing the below statistics not to condemn ecommerce, but to promote sustainable online shopping.
Growing ecommerce leads to exponential waste
Let's start with the rise of global ecommerce, and the statistical analysis of the waste it produces.
In 2023, global retail ecommerce sales reached approximately $5.8 trillion, marking a significant increase from previous years. This can be attributed to factors such as the global pandemic and the ease of online access.¹
24% of total retail sales worldwide will be captured by online ecommerce by 2027, with global ecommerce sales forecasted to grow to $6.8 trillion.²
In 2024, ecommerce sales accounted for 20.1% of total retail sales globally, totalling $6.334 trillion.³
In 2019, the ecommerce industry was estimated to use approximately 1 million tonnes of plastic for packaging.⁴
Ecommerce plastic packaging waste is projected to more than double to over 2 million tonnes by 2025.⁴
A 9.59% increase in Amazon's plastic packaging waste in the US was seen in 2022, totalling an estimated 208 million pounds more than the previous year.⁶
About 167 billion parcels were shipped worldwide in 2023.⁷
The number of parcels shipped globally is expected to reach 200 billion by the end of 2025, reflecting the continued expansion of ecommerce.⁷
A 2022 report on plastic use in ecommerce shows that the two most popular uses for plastic are protective packaging (35%) and pouches and bags (32%). See the full chart below⁶:
There’s no stopping the global growth of ecommerce. This steers us to a fork in the road: will businesses adopt a new, sustainable approach to ecommerce packaging, or will they keep filling the planet with waste and surging their global carbon footprint?
Shopping online leads to plastic prevalence
A 14.6% increase in online shopping packaging waste from the previous year was recorded in 2022.⁶
About 1.76 million tonnes of plastic packaging waste were generated by the ecommerce industry.⁶
Ecommerce plastic packaging waste is projected to reach 3.12 million tonnes by 2027.⁶
Protective packaging, including bubble wrap and air pillows, accounted for 35% of global ecommerce plastic packaging usage in 2019.⁸
Globally, only about 9% of plastic waste has ever been “recycled”, with the rest ending up in landfills, incinerated, or leaking into the environment.⁹
Plastic packaging waste significantly contributes to marine pollution, with an estimated 19–23 million tonnes entering aquatic ecosystems annually as of 2016.⁶
85% of Amazon customers in the US are concerned about plastic pollution, indicating a growing awareness and demand for sustainable packaging solutions.⁶
36% of all plastic produced is used for packaging, with the majority being single-use items that are discarded shortly after use.⁶
50% of plastic packaging used in grocery items could be reduced or replaced with alternative materials, indicating potential for significant waste reduction in the retail sector.¹⁰
Top 12 mismanaged plastic waste polluters
The world's top twelve most wasteful countries in terms of plastic waste that’s mismanaged include superpower China, but also smaller ‘third-world’ economies like Indonesia, Philippines, and Vietnam.5
From the statistics above, there’s a golden thread connecting the rise of plastic waste to the exponential growth of the ecommerce market. The ease of access to ecommerce is a direct cause of plastic overflow.
| Country | % of global mismanaged plastic waste |
|---|---|
| China | 27.7% |
| Indonesia | 10.1% |
| Philippines | 5.9% |
| Vietnam | 5.8% |
| Sri Lanka | 5.0% |
| Thailand | 3.2% |
| Egypt | 3.0% |
| Malaysia | 2.9% |
| Nigeria | 2.7% |
| Bangladesh | 2.5% |
| South Africa | 2.0% |
| India | 1.9% |
| Rest of the world | 27.3% |
Cardboard: recycling vs. reality
In 2022, a 93% recycling rate for cardboard boxes, also known as old corrugated containers (OCC), was recorded. This indicates a high level of recycling efficiency for this material.¹¹
Cardboard and paper waste landfilled in 2019 in the US represented a lost economic value of $4 billion, underscoring the financial impact of not recycling these materials and wasted economic potential.¹²
Landfill and recycling performance by industry division
There are a myriad of industries that utilise cardboard boxes in everyday use. Below is a breakdown of 15 industries where we compared their total usage to the amount that has been recycled and the amount that ended up in landfills.⁴⁰
| Industry division | Total (tonnes) | Landfilled (tonnes) | Recycled/recovered (tonnes) | Recycling rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 3,858,200 | 1,466,300 | 2,391,900 | 62% |
| Accommodation and food services: food and beverage services | 2,163,800 | 1,472,300 | 691,500 | 32% |
| Retail trade: excl. food retailing | 1,975,200 | 1,048,200 | 927,100 | 47% |
| Retail trade: food retailing | 860,600 | 456,700 | 403,900 | 47% |
| Wholesale trade | 738,100 | 384,800 | 353,300 | 48% |
| Arts and recreation services | 571,100 | 422,400 | 148,700 | 26% |
| Health care and social assistance | 564,700 | 443,600 | 121,100 | 21% |
| Accommodation and food services: excl. food service | 391,500 | 266,400 | 125,100 | 32% |
| Transport, postal, and warehousing | 369,900 | 50,300 | 319,600 | 86% |
| Rental, hiring, and real estate services | 287,100 | 262,300 | 24,800 | 9% |
| Education and training | 233,500 | 177,400 | 56,100 | 24% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 223,900 | 157,300 | 66,600 | 30% |
| Public administration and safety | 221,900 | 158,400 | 63,500 | 29% |
| Financial and insurance services | 70,200 | 30,300 | 39,900 | 57% |
| Administrative and support services | 54,500 | 23,600 | 30,900 | 57% |
39.13 million metric tonnes of corrugated boxes were recycled in 2018, resulting in a recycling rate of 96.5% for the industry in the US.¹³
A 68.2% overall recycling rate for paper and paperboard in the US was seen in 2018, the highest compared to other years.¹⁴
In Australia, the commercial and industrial sectors generated approximately 2.6 million tonnes of cardboard waste.⁵
A recycling rate of 59.9% in 2021 indicates effective recycling attempts within the paper recycling industry, yet there is great room for improvement.¹⁵
The global cardboard industry boasts a value exceeding £3 billion, underscoring its economic significance and the importance of sustainable management practices.¹⁶
The recycling rates of cardboard are much higher than those of plastic, yet there is still room for improvement. Additionally, there is a significant gap in innovation, as sturdier cardboard could be repurposed and reused to fuel the circular economy.
Environmental impact of cardboard use by country
When it comes to the cardboard industry, many consumers and manufacturers alike assume that cardboard has no negative effect on the environment. This, however, is not a guarantee. Below is an analysis of the environmental impact that the excessive usage of cardboard has on the planet per country.⁴¹
| Country | Deforestation impact | Annual cardboard use (tonnes) | Carbon footprint (kg CO2e/kg) | Recycling rate (%) | Landfill contribution (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Moderate | 31 million | 0.94 - 1.53 | 93 | 56 |
| China | High | 41 million | 1.14 (virgin) | 68.2 | 25 |
| United Kingdom | Low | 12.5 million | 1.53 (flat cardboard) | 99.8 | 55 |
| Germany | Low | 8.6 million | 0.94 (recycled) | 71.4 | 35 |
| Japan | Moderate | 7 Million | 1.14 - 1.85 | 77 | N/A |
This table offers an overview of the cardboard industry's current state in some of the biggest economies, highlighting its significant environmental and economic implications. More sustainable practices and efficient waste management could make the industry more resource-efficient.
Return policies and the hidden waste factor
15.2% of products purchased online are returned, a significantly higher rate than the 5% return rate for in-store purchases.¹⁷
Ecommerce returns contribute 24 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, due to transportation and processing.¹⁷
In 2022, retailers sent over 9.5 billion pounds of returned products directly to landfills, as it was more cost-effective than restocking them.¹⁸
The fashion sector experiences the highest return rates, with customers returning up to 40% of online garment purchases.¹⁹
Less than 50% of returned items are resold at full price; the remainder are often liquidated, recycled, or discarded, leading to significant waste.²⁰
A quarter of consumers return between 5% and 15% of their online purchases, contributing to approximately 2.3 million tonnes of returned products annually.²¹
In 2021, returns accounted for an average of 16.6% of total US retail sales, amounting to $4.583 trillion, a 6% increase from the previous year.¹⁸
Returns are the small foxes in the field, stealing without anyone noticing. The returns marked by ecommerce are a hard driver of CO₂ emissions, and are a hard factor to consider to achieve a more sustainable future.
Consumer behaviour and packaging expectations
72% of US consumers stated that their purchase decisions were influenced by a product’s packaging design.²³
81% of consumers have tried a new product because the packaging caught their attention.²⁴
82% of consumers are willing to pay more for products with sustainable packaging, an increase of 8 points since 2021.²⁴
63% of consumers are less likely to buy products with packaging harmful to the environment, up 6% from the previous year.²⁵
52% of online shoppers are more likely to make repeat purchases from retailers that use premium packaging.²⁴
94% of consumers are more likely to be loyal to brands that offer transparency, including clear and accurate product labelling.²³
40% of consumers have shared photos of products with unique or branded packaging on social media.²⁴
63–67% of US shoppers perceive products as more expensive when they come in cardboard or paper packaging compared to plastic.²⁴
64% of consumers have felt misled by food packaging, indicating a need for brands to ensure honest and clear messaging.²⁶
Innovative solutions
Let’s look at statistics about innovative solutions to the current ecommerce waste problem:
A compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.40% in the global biodegradable packaging market is projected, growing from 495.78 billion in 2024 to approximately $921.95 billion by 2034.²⁷
A CAGR of 5.7% in the reusable packaging market is expected, with an increase from $133.72 billion in 2025 to $220.23 billion by 2034.²⁸
Implementing reusable packaging can reduce solid waste by up to 96%, future-proofing supply chains, improving bottom lines, and enabling regulatory compliance.²⁹
56% of consumers believe it's important for brands to offer reusable products and packaging, indicating a significant consumer preference for sustainable options.³⁰
A 10% increase in reusable beverage packaging by 2030 could eliminate over 1 trillion single-use plastic bottles and cups, significantly reducing plastic waste.³¹
A CAGR of 7.67% in the sustainable packaging market is projected, with an increase from 292.71 billion in 2024 to 423.56 billion by 2029.³²
A CAGR of 4.1% in the global refillable packaging market size is expected. It’s valued at 41.50 billion in 2022, and is projected to reach 61.72 billion by 2032.³³
Reusable packaging can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 60%, eliminating the need for continuous production and recycling of single-use packaging.²⁹
Based on the facts, implementing innovative sustainable packaging can help us make ecommerce a lot lighter on the planet.
Regional analysis: sustainable packaging leaders
We wanted to see which regions were leading and lagging globally in terms of sustainability efforts.
A CAGR of 6.8% in Europe's sustainable packaging market is projected, growing from 111.6 billion in 2023 to 163.3 billion by 2029.³⁵
A CAGR of 6.2% in the Asia-Pacific region's sustainable packaging market is anticipated, growing from 78.6 billion in 2023 to 111.9 billion by 2029.³⁵
UK supermarkets contribute approximately 29.8 billion pieces of avoidable plastic waste annually, equating to around 1,000 pieces per household, making them the largest contributors in Europe.³⁶
Ireland introduced a Deposit Return Scheme for plastic bottles and aluminium cans on February 1, 2024, resulting in the return of approximately 630 million containers within eight months.³⁷
Despite reporting a 73% recycling rate for plastic waste, actual effective recycling in South Korea is estimated at only 27%, highlighting significant challenges in waste management.³⁸
Germany faces issues with up to 40% of waste in recycling bins being incorrectly sorted, leading to decreased recycling effectiveness.³⁹
Wrapping up: packaging with purpose
The verb “waste” is defined as “use or expend carelessly, extravagantly, or to no purpose”. This is the mindset we need to change in the ecommerce industry. Considering the big impact online shopping waste has on the planet, making it more sustainable is the only possible way.
We at Woola are on a mission to halve bubble wrap use by 2030. How do we plan to do this? By replacing it with waste wool.
Want to see our Wool Envelopes, Bubble Wool, and Bottle Sleeves for yourself? Request a free sample and test it out with your products.
Sources
- Statista — Worldwide Retail ecommerce Sales
- Forrester — Global Retail ecommerce Forecast
- eMarketer — Global Ecommerce Sales Break $6T
- Statista — Estimated annual e-commerce plastic packaging use
- World Atlas — Countries Putting The Most Plastic Waste Into The Oceans
- Oceana — Amazon Plastic Report (PDF)
- Ti insight — Global parcel shipments
- Statista — Global Plastic Packaging by Type
- OECD — Plastic pollution is growing relentlessly
- Food & Wine — Plastic Packaging Reduction
- AF&PA — 2022 US Recycling Rates
- Recycling Today — NREL Study on Landfilled Paper
- EPA — Containers & Packaging Data
- EPA — Paper and Paperboard Waste Stats
- Cepi — The Paper value chain reached a 70,5% recycling rate in 2022
- Greenmatch — Environmental Impact of Cardboard
- ICSC — Brick-and-Mortar Shopping Drives Lower Return Rate Than Online Shopping
- Inside Ecology — Online Returns Impact
- CleanHub — ecommerce Returns Impact
- Done Good — Environmental Cost of Returns
- Falcon Fulfillment — Returns & Waste
- Meyers — Packaging Industry Stats
- Business Dasher — Importance of Packaging
- PR Newswire — Consumers Prefer Sustainable Packaging
- Shorr — Food Packaging Consumer Behavior
- Precedence — Biodegradable Packaging Market
- Towards Packaging — Reusable Packaging Market
- Reusables — Environmental Impact of Reusable Packaging
- Packaging Dive — Consumer Sentiment on Reuse
- Oceana — Reuse Packaging Potential
- Meyers — Sustainable Packaging Stats 2025
- Packaging Tech Today — Refillable Packaging
- Statista — Sustainable Packaging Industry
- GlobeNewswire — Sustainable Packaging Forecast
- The Times — UK Supermarkets and Plastic Waste
- The Guardian — Ireland Deposit Return Scheme
- Reuters — South Korea’s Recycling Challenges
- The Times — Germany’s Decline in Recycling
- DCCEEW — A study into commercial & industrial waste and recycling in Australia by industry division
- Greenmatch — Is cardboard bad for the environment?