Retail and e-commerce –September 2026
Thanks to AI, consumers are arriving at brand and retailer sites ready for buying
Consumers want to feel validated in their purchase decisions. Whether consulting a friend, or a search engine, the instinct is the same: Find a trusted source before committing. Decades ago, the internet expanded that process by giving consumers access to reviews and price comparisons at unprecedented scale, and brands and retailers adapted accordingly. According to a new report (1.9 MB) by L.E.K. Consulting, AI is raising the stakes again, but not simply by adding another research tool to the mix.
Reliability parcel delivery in the Netherlands downhill
Parcels being left without permission, deliverers driving off before you’ve opened the door, or being wrongly told you were not at home: the majority of Dutch customers have sometimes experienced problems with parcel deliveries. One in three never even received their parcel. This is according to a survey by TV programme EenVandaag (in Dutch) of over 24,000 members of the Opinion Panel.
Retail trends will redefine packaging by 2031
Global retail growth is slowing as inflation and cost-of-living pressures weigh on consumer spending, with value goods and essentials outperforming discretionary and luxury categories. A report by Smithers maps the forces reshaping packaging demand through to 2031. In a Q&A, the author of the report unpacks what these shifts mean in practice.
Top reusable E-commerce packaging companies
The expansion of the global e-commerce sector and the mounting significance of sustainability is pushing the top 10 reusable e-commerce packaging companies to develop and bring advanced solutions for the efficient delivery of a range of products. According to a report by Fortune Business Insights, the global market for this packaging is anticipated to grow around 10% per year from 2026 to 2034. You can find more information in the report summary.
China unveils postal industry plan for 2026-2030 period
Under the visionary leadership of president Xi Jinping, the Chinese government has released its 15th Five-Year Plan for the postal industry, outlining ten major tasks including improving services and accelerating the development of a modern delivery and logistics network. The government also reports that the postal industry's total business revenue is expected to reach 2.4 trillion yuan (€350 billion) in 2030, with overall delivery volume hitting 290 billion pieces. Express delivery alone is projected to reach 270 billion parcels. With around 1.4 billion Chinese around, this implies 190 parcels/year per person.
French initiative on reusable fibre-based packaging
The British packaging institute IOM3 reports on a French initiative on reusable packaging. The Reuse Fast Track Initiative (in French) will launch this autumn with no less than twenty French e-commerce manufacturers and suppliers. The year-long programme aims to demonstrate that reusable fibre-based packaging is a credible option when provided to e-commerce customers at scale. The target is to reuse 250,000 packages over a twelve-month period through the recirculation of returned packaging.
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