Covid has created a lot of hardship for our world. There is no doubt that the start of the pandemic brought on some serious challenges for our society. But, as any other efficient and intelligent society does, we have adapted to life around the virus. The world has been experiencing a shift from small businesses and supermarkets to the lifestyle of eCommerce. Companies like Amazon have made a fortune during the pandemic, mostly due to the convenience of having purchased items directly shipped to your door. In some cases, it can take only 1 or 2 days! Now that is a competitive market. With so much online shopping being done, companies are experiencing backlogged orders and quickly depleting stocks on a global scale. Moreover, consumers are starting to completely adjust to covid life and take advantage of eCommerce and its benefits.
One thing that a surplus of online shopping creates is a surplus of cardboard boxes being ordered, produced, and shipped. Cardboard boxes are one of the most effective means of shipping various goods and products because they are cheap and easy to assemble. With so much online ordering being done, cardboard boxes are flying off the production line all the way to an Amazon warehouse and then to the front door of someone’s home. Packing supplies are also in high demand because they are usually complimentary items to cardboard boxes. Things like packing peanuts and bubble wrap are cheap and effective ways to make sure fragile items are not broken during shipping.
One time during the pandemic lockdown, I ordered a pair of shorts that were expected to arrive in about a week from the day I ordered them. I eagerly awaited their arrival and continued to check the mail towards the end of the week, hoping to see my order arrived and ready to open. However, after about 10 days of waiting, I realized something was wrong. Later, I received an email that my shorts had been damaged beyond repair during shipping and that I would be refunded within 20 days. This seemed crazy to me because shorts are nowhere near being a fragile item and do not require much care while shipping. My guess is that my shorts were being shipped over from China via shipping container, and were lost over the side of the boat when Captain Kooley hit a rogue wave somewhere in the Pacific Ocean.
Whatever the case, I was very disappointed to not get my shorts. Perhaps next time that company ships a pair of shorts, they should take advantage of proper packing supplies to ensure that products arrive on time and in good condition. With all the cardboard boxes arriving at your door, make sure that you are properly recycling them. This is super important for saving our planet and making sure we are reducing the amount of waste in our society. The only problem with recycling boxes is that one has to cut them and break them down. This will require a bit of manual labor that most people are not regularly in the mood for; however, get yourself a good pair of scissors or a box cutter and you’ll be cutting through boxes like a knife through butter. Be careful of blisters, though, as they will form on your hands and fingers after a while.
Best of luck!
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