Spotted: Germany created 225.8 kilogrammes of packaging waste per inhabitant in 2020 – the highest level of all countries examined in Europe, even though its recycling rate stands at almost 70 per cent. One of the biggest drivers of this issue is e-commerce waste, which boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic and doesn’t look set to stop. 

To battle this scourge, Germany-based Rhinopaq has created a sustainable and reusable packaging system to replace existing single-use bags and boxes. 

The startup’s packaging consists of sturdy envelopes and boxes made from recycled polypropylene – reducing the need to produce more plastic in fossil-fuel-reliant processes or fell trees for more ‘sustainable’ paper alternatives. Notably, Rhinopaq emphasises that each of its boxes or packs tells a story, meaning that their customers can track carbon savings and the packaging’s previous usage. 

Rhinopaq is commercially available across Germany, offering its reusable boxes on a pay-per-use model as well as a plugin that allows its e-commerce clients to easily provide reusable and disposable packing to their customers on their own websites.  

Customers simply put the packaging back in a postbox when they are done – with no stamp required.

In the archive, Springwise has spotted other innovations working to lessen the climate footprint of e-commerce, including nano-fulfilment centres and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to minimise clothing returns.

Written By: Amanda Simms