CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Simon Property Group officials say as part of their ongoing sustainability efforts they are encouraging customers who purchase items online to make returns in-person in order to cut their carbon emissions related to online returns.
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Simon officials say by returning these items to the store rather than by mail, customers can reduce their carbon emissions by up to 40 percent..
“Where you shop matters,” said Aharon Kestenbaum, Head of Sustainability, Simon. “And where you return also matters. Online returns are a growing problem that adversely and
materially impacts the environment. Returning online purchases to the store offers consumers and retailers the opportunity to lessen that impact.”
Simon officials say studies show online returns are becoming a growing problem in retail as they have doubled in 2020 costing around $102 billion, with clothing returns as high as 40 percent of items ordered online.
Even though stores are the most sustainably friendly option for taking returns, officials say only 7 percent of retailers are actively promoting and encouraging shoppers to return items bought online to stores.
So in recognition of Earth Day, officials say Charlotte Premium Outlets, Concord Mills, and Southpark are encouraging shoppers and retailers to promote in-person returns as it reduces waste, saves money, saves time for refunds, and is overall less stressful.
