The Belgian Union of Self-Employed Entrepreneurs (Unizo) is calling for a European ban on free returns. The association sees the high number of returns as harmful to the climate. A compulsory contribution for returns should discourage.
'Returns harmful for climate'
In a recently published vision note, Unizo drew up ten measures to make the economy climate-neutral. One of those measures is a European ban on free returns in e-commerce. "In addition to the aspect of unfair competition, free returns at large webshops have a negative impact on the number of van trips, which is harmful for the climate," the vision note reads.
Consumer awareness
A compulsory contribution takes away the illusion from consumers that returns are free, Unizo's Danny van Assche tells De Morgen. "The consequence is that customers tend to have a lot of parcels arrive and try everything on at home at their leisure. The rest is sent back without a second thought. You just have to walk into the post office on a weekday and see how many people are queuing up with a box under their arm."
A mandatory contribution for returns will have to lead to customers ordering more consciously, "so they will have the shoes they really want delivered and in the right size, rather than having five or six pairs arrive."
European legislation
The association advocates legislation at European level. "Because charging only in Belgium for returning parcels: this will not work."
