Notice that in the "green mantra" reuse comes before recycle? Columbia Sportswear has taken that to heart. The catalog/online retailer ships thousands of products every day and to try to cut back on the flood of boxes it has to recycle and the matching flood of boxes its customers have to manage, Columbia has instituted a "box reuse" program.
Columbia is trying a new twist on the theme: A Box Life. Online customers can choose to receive their purchases in used boxes. Then they can use the QR code on the box to track where the carton has been.
To test the system, I placed an order and here is what I received.
At first glance the box looked pretty ordinary and it looked like any box I've received with an order in it. All the labels seemed to be shipping labels, except one. When I took a closer look it was clear that this was a "used" box; it had contained a zip-front pullover in purple, size L. That certainly did not match the hat I ordered and received! Good move, Columbia.
Unfortunately, my box didn't come with the nifty little QR code attached...
To learn more about Columbia Sportswear's new box program, watch this video.
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At first glance the box looked pretty ordinary and it looked like any box I've received with an order in it. All the labels seemed to be shipping labels, except one. When I took a closer look it was clear that this was a "used" box; it had contained a zip-front pullover in purple, size L. That certainly did not match the hat I ordered and received! Good move, Columbia.
Unfortunately, my box didn't come with the nifty little QR code attached...
To learn more about Columbia Sportswear's new box program, watch this video.
