2023-11-14 11:31:44
Greenpeace accuses Digitec Galaxus of destroying returned items – the online retailer is defending itself
The environmental protection organization has published a study intended to reveal how some of the returns were disposed of. The online provider Digitec Galaxus denies this.
Digitec Galaxus employees pack ordered items for shipping.
Foto: Gaëtan Bally (Keystone)
Greenpeace targets Digitec Galaxus. The environmental protection organization ordered 25 products from the retailer, each worth less than 120 francs. She had attached GPS trackers to the packages and then sent them back, according to the newspaper “The weather” reported.
Greenpeace published the results in a study on Tuesday. The accusation: Six of the 25 products were destroyed after they were returned. This included a radio, a keyboard with mouse, two toasters and two surveillance cameras. “We assume that Digitec Galaxus did not attempt to resell the products or give them to an external organization for reuse,” said Greenpeace.
There were no problems with the ten products that were more expensive than 50 francs. This means “that Digitec Galaxus probably resold the returned products,” Greenpeace concludes. The remaining products were “probably resold or given away,” according to the NGO.
Activists were there
“The products to be disposed of were sent by Digitec Galaxus from the returns warehouse to a dismantling center,” the environmental protection organization is certain. From there, the products would also be sent to a recycling company for electrical and electronic devices. In order to be certain about the fate of the returns, activists followed the route of the products and were on site.
Switzerland’s largest e-commerce provider, which belongs to Migros, allegedly came into the focus of the environmental NGO after a conversation with a Digitec Galaxus employee. According to the allegations, household or electronic devices with a value of less than 50 francs are usually not checked and therefore not resold.
“We do not destroy the products, but rather recycle them as a last resort.”
Greenpeace is now making demands on Digitec Galaxus: The company should stop destroying usable unsold products and prioritize reuse, repair and refurbishment over recycling.
As part of the campaign, Greenpeace supporters can send a pre-written protest email to company boss Florian Teuteberg. “Around 4,500 emails have currently been sent,” said the Greenpeace spokeswoman.
Digitec Galaxus defends itself against the allegations
Confronted with the allegations, Digitec Galaxus defends itself: “We carefully check the returns that are not defective and, if possible, offer them for sale. We give a large part of it away. Only products that we cannot or are not allowed to sell are sorted out and recycled,” a spokesman assured the newspaper. And emphasizes: “We do not destroy the products, but rather recycle them as a last resort.”
But how many of the unsold goods at Digitec Galaxus are actually destroyed? Greenpeace speaks of 10 percent in the campaign. Digitec Galaxus objects and presents figures. Less than 2 percent of all orders are returned. Of the returned goods, only 5 percent would be recycled.
More companies in Greenpeace’s sights
70 percent of returns are sent back by customers in their original packaging and can therefore be resold. In 30 percent the packaging was opened – these goods are checked individually. According to the company, two thirds of these are then resold as used goods. “In reality, we donate about half of the returns that we cannot or do not want to process,” said the spokesman.
Digitec Galaxus is not the only company that has been targeted by Greenpeace. The NGO surveyed seven other companies from the electronics and clothing industry, including H&M, Zalando, Inditex, Interdiscount, Competec, Apple and Fust. “All retailers destroy new goods. “This is unacceptable,” concludes Greenpeace.
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