REVERSE LOGISTICS
37recyclinginternational.com | July/August | 2020
As soon as a product arrives, Optoro’s
crew scans it and puts a detailed
description into the system. ‘This
enables us to find the best path for
each item, to curb consumption and
reduce waste,’ Moore explains.
Besides supporting circular economy
goals, Optoro’s approach also fosters
strong customer relations. The com-
pany claims over 95% of consumers
are likely to buy again from a retailer if
they have a positive returns experi-
ence.
A breakdown of the company’s annual
returns figures shows:
• 50% goes back into the stock of the
original retailer
• 25% goes back to the vendor for
credit from the retailer
• 15% is sold wholesale to secondary
customers
• 7% is sold to secondary customers
via direct-to-consumer channels
• 3% goes to landfill
coroNavIrus fuels returNs
Adam Vitarello, president of Optoro,
observes that the pandemic has signif-
icantly affected reverse logistics.
Consumers stuck at home for weeks
on end buy more than usual online
and impulse or incorrect purchases
can be just as easily be sent back.
‘Returns from online shoppers are
already four to five times higher than
regular stores,’ Vitarello remarks.
‘Major brands like Walmart, Target
and Ikea saw sales double during lock-
down. We are doing our best to help
retailers and consumers deal with the
massive surge in returns. In a way, you
could say circularity came into action
during the pandemic.’
At the same time, he cautions, con-
sumers generally prefer to hand in
unwanted products at a physical loca-
tion rather than mailing them back.
‘The question is: how do we do this
safely?’ Vitarello asks. ‘Rather than
waiting in line at a service desk with a
bunch of strangers, it’d be better to
have individuals scan a QR code on
the item and drop it off at a designat-
ed recycling bin. That’s going to be
one of the big unlocks; how do busi-
nesses get this right?’
Using a digital portal like Optoro’s
seems the best way to minimise the
chance of infection and the company
expects much more traffic in the near
future. After all, citizens and business
alike are trying to minimise the eco-
nomic damage inflicted by the virus.
Getting rid of unwanted items and
stock is a logical place to start.
Vitarello cites recent market data stat-
ing that, as of mid-May, combined
spending across all consumer catego-
ries in the US dropped by almost 30%.
Never stop movINg
Getting goods physically from point A
to point B is also becoming more sus-
kaderkop
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