The planet is awash in returns

Hot Buttons

This week, we’re talking about returns. The more we shop, the more we return. And the more we shop online, the worse it gets.

Retailers have embraced easy, free returns as a way to grab market share, but it’s coming at a cost to the companies and the planet. We’ll look at just how bad the data is, talk about what can be done to manage returns, and hopefully find some companies who are getting it right. This won’t be the only time we talk about returns, but we’re starting out today with a look at just how bad the problem has gotten.

Then, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is getting serious about holding fashion brands accountable for their sustainability claims. They announced an investigation into Asos, Boohoo, and Asda after a preliminary look at the brands’ claims in January. Will other countries follow suit? And how are brands responding?

Resources:

• New York Times: Retail’s “Dark Side”
• McKinsey: Improving returns management for apparel companies
• BBC: Asos, Boohoo and Asda investigated over green claims
• New York Times: Why a Vogue Cover Created a Controversy for Olena Zelenska

Hot Buttons is a production of Post Script Media. The show is hosted by Christina Binkley, Rachel Kibbe, and Shilla Kim-Parker. Follow the show on Twitter.

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