--- title: How sustainable are product returns? description: There has been a lot of debate about the fact that product returns are not sustainable. Let’s have a closer look at returns and sustainability. image: https://www.12return.com/hubfs/Blog/sustainable.png --- [![12return](https://www.12return.com/hubfs/Website%20assets/Logo%2012return/12%20return%20transparance%20back%20ground%20new%20resolution.svg)](https://www.12return.com) - PRODUCTS ## Software and services for cross-border returns ### [Return portal Digital returns to remove the friction from the customer return journey and to improve sales retention.](https://www.12return.com/return-portal) ### [Merchant dashboard Personal dashboard for support agents to be in control of all returns and to gain insights from returns data.](https://www.12return.com/merchant-dashboard) ### [International shipping Global and local carrier services for hassle-free, cost-effective, and sustainable returns from any customer anywhere.](https://www.12return.com/reverse-logistics) ### [Local returns processing Returns processing services in Europe and the United States for reuse of products in a cost-effective and sustainable way.](https://www.12return.com/local-returns-processing) - [SOLUTIONS](https://www.12return.com/customer-service) ## [Solutions for every team](https://www.12return.com/customer-service) ### [Customer service 45% less time spent on irrelevant customer contact.](https://www.12return.com/customer-service) ### [Logistics 30% savings in freight spent with local shipping.](https://www.12return.com/logistics_old) ### [Operations 25% reduction in time and costs for restocking and reusing products](https://www.12return.com/local-returns-processing) - [INTEGRATIONS](https://www.12return.com/ecommerce-systems) ## [Integrations with systems and service for your returns](https://www.12return.com/ecommerce-systems) ### [E-commerce systems 12return integrates with your favorite e-commerce system.](https://www.12return.com/ecommerce-systems) ### [Carrier services 12return integrates with global and local carriers.](https://www.12return.com/carrier-services) ### [Marketplaces 12return integrates with your marketplaces of choice.](https://www.12return.com/market-places) ### [Fulfillment 12return partners with fulfillment and logistics service providers.](https://www.12return.com/fulfillment) ### [Revalue channels 12return integrates with revalue channels.](https://www.12return.com/revalue-channels) ### [Productivity tools 12return integrates with your favorite productivity tools.](https://www.12return.com/productivity-tools) - [PRICING](https://www.12return.com/pricing_draft0001) - RESOURCES ## Resources to turn your returns process into an asset ### [Help center Documentation for users to work with 12return.](https://help.12return.com/en/) ### [Developer Documentation for developers to integrate with 12return.](https://developer.returnbird.com/) ### [Program The 12return program supports the transformation of your returns process.](https://www.12return.com/program) ### [GDPR 12return takes data security seriously.](https://www.12return.com/general-data-protection-regulation) ### [Whitepapers and more Whitepapers and more to inspire and rethink returns.](https://www.12return.com/whitepapers) ### [Blog Join the 12return blog for more insights into returns management.](https://www.12return.com/company/blog) - COMPANY ## We are 12return ### [Our story We are one...two...return.](https://www.12return.com/our-story) ### [Contact Contact us at any time.](https://www.12return.com/contact) ### [Demo Request a demo of our software and services.](https://www.12return.com/demo) ### [Partner program Become a partner in the 12return ecosystem.](https://www.12return.com/partner-program) ### [Newsroom Stay informed about what's happening at 12return.](https://www.12return.com/company/newsroom) [CONTACT](https://www.12return.com/contact) returns management # How sustainable are product returns? There has been a lot of debate about the fact that product returns are not sustainable. Let’s have a closer look at returns and sustainability. [Stef de Bont](https://www.12return.com/company/blog/author/stef-de-bont) Jun 7, 2017 --- Recently there has been a lot of debate about the fact that product returns are far from being sustainable. Many will say that returns are not sustainable at all and should always be avoided. Let’s have a closer look at the product returns phenomenon and [reverse logistics](https://www.12return.com/logistics) in relation to sustainability. **The general picture** With the growth of global e-commerce product returns are often associated with consumers buying and trying products at home and returning these without reason within 14 days after purchase. These are the returns that are considered unwanted and being a burden for the merchant. These are the returns that do not add any value and should just be avoided. These are the returns that are not sustainable at all. No doubt, that is true. But knowing that these returns exist (like taxes and many other unwanted things) how can we make the process to deal with it sustainable? At the end of the day, these returns are sometimes wanted as they are part of the shopping experience and customer service offering of a brand or retailer. Can we make these sustainable? Yes, we can! **Utilizing the mobility of the consumer** The answer can be found in utilizing the mobility of the consumer to execute the “first mile” of the returns process. If the consumer returns an unwanted pair of jeans to a drop-off location or shop there is no additional transportation other than the customer going to the shop anyway. From a transportation (read sustainability) point of view, what is the difference between trying at home and trying in the fitting room of the shop? Both options result in a return without additional transportation besides the customer executing the first mile to the shop. Nobody likes commercial returns in e-commerce but the mobility of the consumer can have a substantial contribution to these returns being at least a bit more sustainable. **The other picture** In the other picture, we should in fact embrace returns as an opportunity to maintain the value of existing products or to unlock their remaining value in other (new) products. In the other picture, returns contribute to avoiding the shocking picture above this post and can be a sustainable answer to resource depletion on one side versus landfill on the other side. **Returns are an enabler for sustainability** In the other picture, returns enable repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing, parts recovery, and recycling opportunities. In this picture products, that once have been created with craftsmanship from natural resources, keep their value in any shape or form. This avoids these products losing their value and ending up in dark hidden corners of the supply chain or landfill. **How sustainable are product returns?** It looks like there is no simple yes or no to this question. But knowing that returns exist and can contribute to sustainability we should feel obliged to develop and implement a Reverse Supply Chain that is sustainable in itself. [returns management](https://www.12return.com/company/blog/topic/returns-management) [product returns](https://www.12return.com/company/blog/topic/product-returns) [circular economy](https://www.12return.com/company/blog/topic/circular-economy) ## More from the blog returns management ### [Return to Vendor should not become Return to Sender](https://www.12return.com/company/blog/return-to-vendor-should-not-become-return-to-sender) Your returns process should be prepared for another returns process: return to vendor. Stef de Bont Jun 7, 2017 returns management ### [In retail, returns will stay, so better deal with them in a smart way](https://www.12return.com/company/blog/in-retail-returns-will-simply-stay-so-better-deal-with-them-in-a-smart-way) Should we fight the monster of retail returns or minimize the consequences? Discover the opportunities for Return Profiling. Stef de Bont Jul 18, 2019 returns management ### [Top 3 challenges in the returns process](https://www.12return.com/company/blog/top-3-challenges-in-the-returns-process) E-commerce is booming and return volumes are exploding. Do you recognize the top 3 challenges for the returns process? Stef de Bont Mar 11, 2021 ### Get notified of new posts on the 12return blog Join the 12return blog for more insights into returns management. With 12return, you can connect the frontend and backend returns processes into a digital, integrated business process that is up to the challenges of returns and turns the returns process into an asset for your business. Made with ❤️ in The Netherlands, used by businesses and consumers around the world. ### Products - [Return portal](https://www.12return.com/return-portal) - [Merchant dashboard](https://www.12return.com/merchant-dashboard) - [International shipping](https://www.12return.com/reverse-logistics) - [Local returns processing](https://www.12return.com/local-returns-processing) ### Solutions - [Customer service](https://www.12return.com/customer-service) - [Logistics](https://www.12return.com/logistics_old) - [Operations](https://www.12return.com/operations) ### 12return - [Our story](https://www.12return.com/our-story) - [Contact us](https://www.12return.com/contact) - [Demo](https://www.12return.com/demo) - [Partner program](https://www.12return.com/partner-program) © 2022 12return All rights reserved [Privacy Policy](https://www.12return.com/privacy-policy-website) © 2021 Kalungi, Inc. - All Rights Reserved. [Powered by Atlas - a B2B SaaS HubSpot theme](https://www.kalungi.com/atlas-hubspot-theme-for-b2b-saas-software) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Stef de Bont", "url" : "https://www.12return.com/company/blog/author/stef-de-bont" }, "dateModified" : "2022-01-27T21:17:45.170Z", "datePublished" : "2017-06-07T19:41:27.000Z", "headline" : "How sustainable are product returns?", "image" : [ "https://www.12return.com/hubfs/Blog/sustainable.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.12return.com/company/blog/how-sustainable-are-product-returns", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.12return.com/hubfs/12Return%20logo_blauw-1.png" }, "name" : "12Return" } } ```