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Free returns on the out as fast fashion retailers introduce a charge – Boohoo joins Zara, Next and Uniqlo in push to reduce environmental harm
- Online fashion retailer Boohoo angered customers in July by doing away with free returns on unwanted items – but it isn’t the only one introducing paid returns
- Fast fashion is moving away from free returns to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the amount of clothing that ends up in landfills
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Online fast fashion website Boohoo has become the latest retailer to cancel free returns, angering its customers.
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Many people have become accustomed to free returns, free shipping and the general convenience of online shopping that has become the norm during the coronavirus pandemic.
“A single return may not seem like much, but consumers are often unaware of the sheer scale of the problem, which damages our planet and hits their pockets,” said Whitney Cathcart, co-founder of 3DLook, the company behind virtual fitting room YourFit.
Cathcart is a fashion industry veteran and sustainability expert who created YourFit as a way for consumers to minimise returns, which benefits brands and the environment.
Boohoo is not the only one rolling back free returns – fashion chains Zara, Next and Uniqlo have also introduced paid returns, with more brands likely to follow. Shoppers who subscribe to next-day delivery service Boohoo Premier for £12.99 (US$15.66) a year will still receive free returns.
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