The post-Christmas retail rush kicks off Tuesday; and about $90 billion worth of presents are expected to go back to retailers.
Returns logistics suggest $90 billion worth of products may be returned this holiday season. And while retailers can resell some of those items, much of the value of returns is lost.
This process is not only a drag on profits, but creates billions of tons of waste. Retailers end up throwing away 30 to 40 percent of goods because it doesn't make sense to send them through this reverse supply chain.
The returns economy also creates pollution as trucks ship items back and forth.
The problem has gotten worse in the age of e-commerce as consumers increasingly shop online and expect accommodating return policies.