Retail and e-commerce - August 2022

09 September 2022

E-commerce distribution and packaging
In an article (1.33 MB) published in The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research, researchers at Chalmers University of Technology discuss packaging in e-commerce distribution. The study investigates e-commerce packaging as an embedded resource in three network settings: product development, packing and sorting.

Retail market
Asendia has published an e-commerce market overview. In 2021, retail e-commerce sales amounted to approximately $4.9 trillion worldwide. This figure is forecast to grow by 50% over the next four years, reaching about $7.4 trillion by 2025. You can download the report after filling in your details.
Ecommerce Europe and EuroCommerce have jointly published the 2022 European E-commerce Report (2.33 MB). In 2021, B2C e-commerce grew by 13% to €718 billion. The turnover figures show that e-commerce continues to grow, despite lockdowns being lifted.
Euromonitor International has published a top 100 of retailers in Asia based on annual sales. Retail sales in Asia are expected to register a 7% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2026. You can download the report after filling in your details.
FoodService Instituut Nederland has published an article (in Dutch) about their FSIN Food500. The report addresses the latest developments among the five hundred largest food formulas in the Netherlands. Subjects include fast deliveries, the strong growth in convenience stores, how fast service is being transformed by delivery and the repositioning in catering.

Online shopping and sustainability
Roadmap 2025: Sustainability in European e-commerce by Seven Senders brings together the latest research findings and consumer attitudes regarding sustainability and e-commerce. According to the study, most online retailers have recognised the cost savings and waste reduction that can come from reducing packaging and using reusable and recyclable packaging concepts. You will receive the study by email after filling in your details.
New research from DS Smith reveals that 85 million m3 of air is being shipped to UK homes each year due to unnecessary packaging – equivalent to more than 34,000 Olympic swimming pools. When faced with a box with too much packaging, 46% of consumers say it has made them feel frustrated with the retail brand.
Thuiswinkel.org has published an article (in Dutch) about their Sustainability Monitor. Most Dutch consumers consider sustainable online shopping important (66%), but they do not always know how to do it. When asked what web shops themselves can do to become more sustainable, reducing the amount of plastic used by consumers comes first (88%), followed by using less packaging material (86%).

Shopping behaviour
Cross-Border Commerce Europe has released a report ranking the 16 strongest EU countries with a focus on their cross-border performance from both consumer perspective and business approach. Luxembourg ranks first. The Netherlands ranks last with a cross-border market share of 15.9%, representing €4.8 billion. You can find more information in a recent article.
According to ShoppingTomorrow (in Dutch), Dutch consumers expect to do a larger share of their spending online in five years' time. The expected online turnover share has risen to 41% in 2027. Consumers expect the shift to online to continue in the coming years. You can download the GfK report (in Dutch) after filling in your details.

NVC members receive this information with all the relevant links in the monthly NVC Members-only Update. If you have any questions, please contact us: info@nvc.nl, +31-(0)182-512411