Home / Business and Economy / Postmoda Pivots to Tackle Billion-Pound E-Commerce Returns Crisis
Postmoda Pivots to Tackle Billion-Pound E-Commerce Returns Crisis
16 Nov, 2025
Summary
- E-commerce returns expected to reach 20% in 2023
- Apparel companies spent $25.1 billion in returns processing
- Over 8 billion pounds of returns sent to landfills in 2023
In 2025, the e-commerce returns crisis has reached a tipping point. According to a recent report, about 20% of items purchased online are expected to be returned this year, up from previous years. This has led to a staggering $25.1 billion in processing costs for apparel companies, and over 8 billion pounds of returns being sent to landfills.
The issue has become so prevalent that many brands and retailers have been reluctant to acknowledge it as a problem. "Where is it ending up? Nobody would talk to us about it. Brands wouldn't talk to us, merchandising officers wouldn't talk to us," says Adarsh Alphons, the cofounder and CEO of Postmoda.
Postmoda, a startup that launched to the public in late 2023, aims to tackle this crisis head-on. The company plans to offer a marketplace for luxury and designer returns, taking them off the hands of retailers and keeping them out of landfills. Instead, Postmoda will offer these items to shoppers at a discounted price.
