How is online shopping contributing to landfills?

Presenter Abbie Dewhurst investigates how UK consumers return almost £7bn worth of online purchases every year and how more than a fifth of all clothes bought online are returned. We also discover why not measuring yourself before buying online could be contributing to filling landfills across the country.

The British Retail Consortium said that responsible retailers invest millions to reduce textile waste, and to ensure textile waste is dealt with in the UK rather than being exported. It said that a governmental and textiles industry responsibility scheme, could improve UK textile waste management, and encourage re-use and recycling.

The UK Fashion & Textile Association, or UKFT, told us that it supports reducing fashion waste but believes systemic change and collective action is needed, including new legislation, better recycling infrastructure, and new business models – including AI forecasting - to cut unsold stock. It also said that consumer education could reduce overbuying and unnecessary returns.

To watch with subtitles, go to iPlayer and search for Morning Live from 05/06/25.