Every year, 85 million m3 of air – enough to fill 34,000 Olympic swimming pools – is being shipped to UK homes, according to a study commissioned by packaging giant DS Smith.
This "air-commerce", as the research dubs it, is caused by packaging companies using oversized boxes to package items bought by UK customers, resulting in the use of 9,291 extra tonnes of cardboard – at a cost of £39.4 million and 480 million m2 of plastic tape – an area approximately the size of West Yorkshire.
The use of oversized packaging is not only cost-inefficient but also produces high levels of carbon emissions.
According to DS Smith, UK 'air-commerce' is responsible for generating 86,071 tonnes of excess carbon dioxide emissions annually, equivalent to nearly 5 million online delivery journeys.
“Consumers want less packaging," said Stefano Rossi, DS Smith Packaging CEO. "Raw materials are more expensive than ever, and the benefits for the environment...