Environmental groups called on e-commerce giants Lazada and Shopee to revamp their packaging scheme amid the spike in plastic waste, especially since the upcoming holiday season will drive demand for consumer goods.
Jefferson Chua, Greenpeace Philippines consultant, said the digital platforms should apply a zero-waste approach in their operations as e-commerce is expected to expand even more.
“The rise of online shopping during pandemic has also shown us that e-commerce is now really part of the new normal. By heeding the people’s call to reveal, reduce and redesign, Lazada and Shopee can lead the way to provide Filipinos a better normal e-commerce experience,” he said during a press conference on Wednesday.
Chua said that the “the mounds of unnecessary plastic waste produced through each order burden our households and communities.”
Lazada and Shopee should not pass on all the responsibility to its consumers when it comes to segregating and disposing of plastic waste, he said. The e-commerce platforms, Chua said, have the capital and resources to implement sustainable solutions.
“While both companies have publicized efforts to implement more ‘eco-friendly’ practices, their plastic packaging spree continues,” environmental groups said in a statement.
The Greenpeace official urged the digital marketplaces to be transparent on how much waste they produce for accountability. This, as he asked them to “show and strengthen internal mechanisms that are focused on environmental sustainability.”
It is also ideal to set a reduction target in terms of waste, he said, in addition to rationalizing packaging schemes.
Chua said Lazada and Shopee should “redesign systems on e-commerce packaging to make it more environmentally sustainable.”
JuanBag Founder Rachelle Lacanlale said using reusable packaging is both doable and beneficial for the business. JuanBag is a returnable and reusable packaging provider.
“If businesses shift their thinking from focusing on profit alone to prioritizing the needs of people and the planet, we can design and innovate new systems that don’t sacrifice the well-being of communities and the environment,” she said.
Last November 2020, the Youth Strike for Climate Philippines launched an online petition urging Lazada and Shopee to adopt a zero-waste approach. It has garnered over 14,000 signatures.