GREENLANDSCAPE [ INSIGHT ]
by Disney Petit Sustainability Expert and Founder, LiquiDonate disney@liquidonate.com
Waste Not, Win More: Smart Sustainability Drives Retail Growth
As the effects of climate change grow more apparent, consumers increasingly hold brands accountable for their sustainability practices. Fortunately, what’s good for the planet is also good for business.
Reroute customer returns to significantly reduce reverse logistics costs. Due to modern-day online shopping, customer returns are one of the most costly processes for retailers. In addition, the shipping distances for item returning and restocking often make it cost prohibitive to even accept a return, leading to “keep it” returns and the increase of fraud. Recently, software companies also decided to take on this huge and universal problem. One organization introduced the concept of “peer-to-peer” returns, letting customers choose to get a discount for buying an item shipped directly from someone who is trying to return it. Another developed an automated returns process to directly reroute items to a local nonpro t within 30 miles to save on shipping costs. Customers enjoy the same exact returns process without any added effort for the retailer besides a software integration. With 2.6 million tons of ecommerce returns hitting land lls annually, it’s time for retailers to rethink reverse logistics. The tools are here—and they make it easier than ever to meet ESG goals, reduce waste, and make a positive impact. n
ef cient. New data-driven inventory software can easily integrate with your existing systems to use mathematical algorithms, calculating more accurate estimates of how much inventory should be produced. Donate excess warehouse inventory. Most retailers always have unsellable or excess inventory taking up space in their warehouse. It can’t be resold, but it also shouldn’t be wasted. The easiest and most impactful solution to this problem is donating those goods to a nonpro t organization. Your company not only gets valuable shelf space back but also gets a nancial tax bene t from doing so. Some companies create their own donation programs, while others use tech partners to streamline the process. These tools help clear warehouses and meet ESG goals with minimal effort. Whatever the method, helping the community can often cost less than sending items to the land ll, making it a win-win for all.
Limited sustainable options and pressure to cut costs result in perfectly good products being wasted daily. The good news? New technology can help save both money and the environment. Each year, over $288 billion worth of unsold inventory is land lled, burned, or buried in warehouses. Many of these materials could be saved through upcycling or downcycling. If products can’t stay on shelves, they can be repurposed as components or sent to new markets—reducing waste and adding value. Alternatively, new companies emerged that use cutting-edge technology to turn end-of-life feedstocks into materials for manufacturers. Contributing to a “circular economy” is also becoming a buzzword for brands. Several ecomm businesses acquire archived/older collections from retailers and resell them at low prices directly to consumers. Finally, an easy way to reduce land ll waste is to make your supply chain more
64 Inbound Logistics • July 2025
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