ONDC has the potential to be greener logistics solution:
Standardise packaging:
Defining the standards of packaging of common sizes & use cases and provide a discount for merchants on the network using these standards.
RE(turn)-commerce:
Ability for customer to return packaging the order is delivered in, with the same order (for one time e-commerce purchases like devices, apparel, books, etc.) or in future order (for frequent e-commerce purchases like food, groceries, etc.). This creates room for reusable packaging in all of logistics.
By simply including ‘return order’ information into an existing order, at the effectively same emissions used to deliver something ONDC could become the no cost supply chain for the startups in the circular economy sectors: REuse (startup like Refillable, Ecovia), REpurpose (startups like Recharka), REcycling (startups like Rescript, Scarp uncle). If any business deserve supply chain services at zero cost, it would be those based in circular economy. Imagine the incentive it would be to create new eco-friendlier startups.
Currently, the value derived from a delivery is mostly only on the delivering leg of the order and not the return leg of the order. Return commerce can derive value from the return leg of an order which can help ONDC offset costs and provide competent pricing in logistics.
At some point re(turn)-commerce can balance the e-commerce and transition to become the basis for more general resource management infrastructure during a climate crisis. If systems of extraction transition into systems of regeneration - this is how it could look like.
Last time supply chains doubled their efficiency was when internet was invented, and it happened over decades of innovation. With simple additional feature, value the logistics infrastructure adds to the economy could be doubled in eco-friendlier way.
P.s. - Would Rainmatter fund a research into the potential of re(turn)-commerce through ONDC and what could packaging standards be?
Appreciate all ideas. 