780 million pieces of plastic packaging used for Hong Kong online shopping orders in 2020; green group urges regulation of issue

Local group Green Sense conducted checks at 10 parcel collection stations and found an average of 2.32 pieces of packaging were used for each product

Only 35 per cent of respondents to a survey say unnecessary wrapping is an issue, 16 percentage points less than last year

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Green Sense members Gabrielle Ho (left) and Polly Ma. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Published: 10:50pm, 18 Aug 2021Updated: 2:11am, 19 Aug 2021

An estimated 780 million pieces of plastic packaging were used for goods bought online in Hong Kong last year as more consumers shopped from home amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to a green group which called for regulations to deal with the problem.

Local group Green Sense found that an average of 2.32 pieces of packaging were used for each product, but just 35 per cent of respondents to a survey said unnecessary wrapping was an issue, 16 percentage points less than last year.

The group conducted packaging counts at 10 parcel collection stations operated by SF Express, one of the largest couriers in Hong Kong, 17 times in May and June this year. It also collected 209 online questionnaires on internet shopping habits and the use of packaging.

Green Sense’s Gabrielle Ho says delivery companies may have used too much wrapping on goods. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Official data showed 2,672,300 people used online shopping services in 2020, 20.3 per cent more than in 2018. Figures are not available for 2019. Based on the government figures, the group estimated about 780 million packaging pieces were used for such purchases last year.

The amount of online sales in the first half of 2021 surged 54.9 per cent compared with the same period last year, while customers racked up HK$2.3 billion (US$295.3 million) in online retail sales in June, a 63.8 per cent year-on-year increase.

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780 million pieces of plastic packaging used for Hong Kong online shopping orders in 2020; green group urges regulation of issue

Local group Green Sense conducted checks at 10 parcel collection stations and found an average of 2.32 pieces of packaging were used for each product Only 35 per cent of respondents to a survey say unnecessary wrapping is an issue, 16 percentage points less than last year

Local group Green Sense conducted checks at 10 parcel collection stations and found an average of 2.32 pieces of packaging were used for each product

Only 35 per cent of respondents to a survey say unnecessary wrapping is an issue, 16 percentage points less than last year