Excessive packaging causes environmental issues

Reporter: Yang Yong and Chen Ziqi

Wastes generated by the courier services damped at landfills. [Photo: from VCG]

If you are an avid online shopper, you probably are always very excited when your parcel finally arrives. But what do you do with the packaging after unwrapping your goodies? Do you dispose them off as garbage or do you take them for recycling elsewhere? 

Inappropriately discarding off waste has been reported as one of the main culprits that jeopardize the environment. 

To tackle this issue, some e-commerce platforms and delivery companies have been inventing new ways to deal with waste materials that result from shopping, including using biodegradable materials for packaging, recyclable containers and promoting recycling awareness.