UK Shoppers Reject Plastic in Fashion Deliveries

According to a recent analysis from sustainable packaging business DS Smith, the UK's e-commerce industry is facing growing consumer backlash over the use of plastic in fashion deliveries. The report found that three in four UK shoppers (76%) still receive their online fashion orders wrapped in plastic, despite 69% of consumers supporting a shift to more sustainable paper packaging.

The findings come a decade after the introduction of the plastic bag levy, which has significantly reduced single-use plastic bag use in UK stores by 98%. However, with the levy not applying to online deliveries, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) reports that plastic bag sales are now rising for the first time in a decade, fueled by the booming e-commerce sector.

DS Smith warns that this "delivery loophole" could undo the environmental gains made in recent years. Previous research has suggested that nearly seven billion plastic bags will be used for UK deliveries by 2030, equating to over 130,000 bags every hour. Alarmingly, less than 10% of these e-commerce bags are currently being reused or recycled, with the vast majority being incinerated or sent to landfills.

"Shoppers are clear that they don't want unnecessary plastic in their fashion orders, and many would support stronger action, including legislative change," said Samantha Upham, senior sustainability manager at DS Smith. The company is now working with major retailers to help replace 1.7 billion plastic items since 2020, offering scalable solutions such as recyclable paper packaging and alternative materials made from hemp, seaweed, and agricultural by-products.