Flipkart has eliminated single-use plastic packaging in its fulfillment centers in India, the Walmart-owned e-commerce platform announced last week. It reached its goal while grappling with a surge in online retail demand. The company achieved this by implementing sustainable alternatives, such as recycled paper bags to replace polythene pouches and swapping shredded carton waste in place of bubble wrap.
There's a business case for sustainability, according to a 2020 survey of supply chain professionals from Gartner. Those surveyed perceived waste reduction and water-efficiency improvements as the most likely sustainability initiatives to have a financial benefit. There's also a high amount of consumer interest. Seventy-one percent of people want single-use plastics banned as soon as possible, according to a 2019 survey by market research and consulting firm Ipsos.