2024, Volume 70(74), Issue 3 (September), pp. 64 - 77

Management of Packaging Waste from E-Commerce in the Context of the Circular Economy

CONSTANTIN CÎRJAN, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, “Cristofor Simionescu” Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Department of Environmental Engineering and Management, Romania
DANIELA GAVRILESCU, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, “Cristofor Simionescu” Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Department of Environmental Engineering and Management, Romania, daniela.gavrilescu@academic.tuiasi.ro
CARMEN TEODOSIU, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, “Cristofor Simionescu” Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Department of Environmental Engineering and Management, Romania

pages 65 - 77   Download
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.13837961

Abstract
Sustainability in e-commerce is a new but significant issue in the context of European Union's transition to a circular economy due to the rapidly growing e-commerce market. In Romania, over 500,000 single-use plastic or cardboard packaging materials are used daily for online shipments. The packaging sector is one of the major consumers of virgin raw materials. The increased use of packaging, combined with low rates of reuse and recycling, hinders the development of a circular economy. In recent years, the packaging industry has grown faster than the national gross income of various countries, leading to increased CO₂ emissions and other pollutants, as well as overexploitation of natural resources, loss of biodiversity, and pollution. To minimize the negative impact, efforts are currently underway to develop and implement more sustainable practices in the online commerce industry, including the use of recyclable packaging, optimizing transportation, and promoting ecological practices. Consumers can also play a crucial role by carefully choosing products and merchants with environmental concerns and by adopting more responsible purchasing practices. In this context the main objective of this study is to analyse the management of packaging waste generated by e-commerce within the framework of circular economy. The most important practices and trends at international and national level are discussed and recommendations regarding the management of packaging waste resulted from electronic commerce in Romania are provided.
Keywords: e-commerce, circular economy, packaging waste, sustainability.