Taiwan retailer’s packaging-free service cuts waste

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — E-commerce platform Shopee (蝦皮購物) announced Wednesday (Oct. 15) its packaging-free delivery service has reached over 780,000 consumers with a 98% satisfaction rate. The innovative method eliminates wasteful packaging when shipping goods to customers, doubling shipping speed for participating sellers. Company representatives stated the initiative promotes sustainable consumption and environmental protection.

Sellers participating in the service reported using fewer materials, including tape, cardboard, and foam, while experiencing doubled shipping speeds. Shopee restructured its logistics system to streamline processes and eliminate individual packaging requirements for sellers. The operational changes enhance efficiency while reducing environmental impact through material reduction.

Customers have noted the service makes small items easier to carry, particularly benefiting motorcyclists who place goods directly into scooter trunks instead of handling bulky boxes. The packaging-free service achieved over 780,000 users with a 98% logistics satisfaction rate. The convenience factor appeals especially to Taiwan's numerous motorcycle commuters.

Pauline Liao (廖君凰), Shopee's senior director of corporate branding, stated the company expects over a million products to adopt packaging-free delivery by year's end. Shopee estimates the service will cut over 13,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions by then. The reduction equals the environmental benefit of planting 1.3 million trees.

The packaging-free initiative entered trial phase in February following Shopee's 2022 store-to-store recyclable packaging plan launch. The previous program allowed customers to recycle packaging at Shopee locations and use personal bags for goods. That earlier initiative was suspended in May 2024 before the current program's development. 

Online shopping surge has contributed to global packaging waste, with a 2022 study showing online purchases produce nearly five times more waste than in-store buying. Taiwan's government, the island's central authority, passed 2023 regulations prohibiting online retailers from using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in packaging. Sellers must now use paper or plastic packaging meeting specific recycled material thresholds.

Convenience drives delivery services and online shopping growth, a global trend expected to continue expanding. Initiatives combining convenience with sustainability represent valuable efforts to protect the environment from online retail's environmental toll. The packaging-free service addresses this growing challenge through innovative logistics solutions. ◼