Flipkart reduces plastic packaging by half in move towards zero waste

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
May 19, 2020

E-commerce giant Flipkart has reduced plastic packaging in its supply chain by 50%, as the business moves towards zero waste and introduces sustainable packaging materials, including recycled paper bags.

 
Flipkart has greatly reduced its plastic use across India and began to phase out plastic packaging completely in its Maharashtra supply chain, the business said in a statement on its website on May 18. From May 1, Flipkart has begun to switch to paper packaging in Maharashtra, aiming for zero waste in the state. 
 
The business has introduced a range of sustainable packaging materials to replace plastic goods including, “eco-friendly paper shreds, replacing poly pouches with recycled paper bags, replacing bubble wraps and airbags with carton waste shredded material and two ply roll,” according to Flipkart’s statement. 

“Flipkart is strongly committed to environmental sustainability and is working actively with various partners on long-term sustainability initiatives, helping drive ecosystem awareness,” said Flipkart Group’s chief corporate affairs officer, Rajneesh Kumar, in the business’ online statement.

“We are pleased with the progress made in our own supply chain to introduce and explore different packaging concepts to have an impact now and in the future.”
 
Flipkart is in the process of working with policy makers, including state governments, to formulate a plan to help the sellers on its platform transition away from plastic packaging.

The business’ other initiatives to work towards increased sustainability include introducing electric vehicles into its last-mile delivery network and ameliorating its waste management.