Not excessive, fit-to-size, with minimum impact on the environment throughout the lifecycle, yet durable to ensure damage-free delivery. These are the characteristics of packaging that guide our operational decisions. We invest in research to have definitive, validated evidence that packaging options we choose are the best available alternatives. We also commit to engaging with our partners, including merchants and food manufacturers, as well as users to jointly drive sustainable change.
Packaging & Recycling Data
Yandex Market packaging
Yandex Market Packaging Stats, Packaging Used Bar Chart.
2876 metric tons in 2019.
6358 metric tons in 2020.
10934 metric tons in 2021.
The increase in packaging materials is the result of business growth. In 2021, Yandex Market’s GMV grew 2.8 times and the number of orders grew more than 3 times compared with a 1.7 times increase in the amount of packaging materials used. This suggests a decrease in the amount of per order packaging due to optimization measures.
The increase in packaging materials is the result of business growth. In 2021, Yandex Market’s GMV grew 2.9x and the number of orders grew 3x vs 1.7x increase in the amount of packaging materials used. This suggests a decrease in the amount of per order packaging due to optimization measures.
Cardboard — 84% Paper — 7% Other — 2%
Cardboard — 74% Paper — 11% Other — 6%
Paper bags — 3% Stretch film — 3% Other — 2%
Stretch film — 4% Paper bags— 2% Tape – 1% Other — 2%
Cardboard — 84% Paper — 7% Other — 2%
Cardboard — 74% Paper — 11% Other — 6%
Paper bags — 3% Stretch film — 3% Other — 2%
Stretch film — 4% Paper bags— 2% Tape – 1% Other — 2%
Yandex Market Packaging Stats, Packaging by Type Pie Charts.
92% of packaging from recycled and reused materials in 2020. Tooltip – 84% of packaging is cardboard, 7% is paper, 2% is other materials.
91% of packaging from recycled and reused materials in 2021. Tooltip – 74% of packaging is cardboard, 11% is paper, 6% is other material
From recycled or reused materials
Highlighted Facts
900,000+
delivery boxes and bags were saved within a month after the excess packaging reduction measures had been implemented by Market
91%
of all Yandex Market delivery packaging is made from recycled or reused materials; e.g., 100% of shipping boxes are made from recycled cardboard
84%
of food packaging units produced under the Yandex Lavka brand were made from sustainable (recycled or recyclable) materials
66%
of known waste generated in dark stores and in the production of Yandex Lavka private label products was sent for recycling in 2021
Choosing the Right Packaging
When evaluating packaging alternatives, we employ material testing as well as science-based approach to measuring impacts.
Optimizing packaging in Y.Market
Before reaching the buyer, goods pass through logistics centers, where they are stored, assembled into an order, packaged and sent for delivery. While packaging is often necessary to ensure damage-free storage and shipment, we want to make sure that the use of materials is optimized.
For that, we have introduced a set of measures to cut on excess packaging: improved the accuracy of choosing its right size, added more packaging alternatives, revised our guidelines for wrapping and cushioning. We have assessed our first results and revealed a reduction in packaging costs.
LCA of Yandex Lavka delivery bags
Life cycles of packaging highly contribute to their overall environmental footprint. Tracing environmental impacts of packaging to the stages of extraction and processing of raw materials provides an important perspective on what can be regarded as sustainable in different contexts.
Yandex became the first Russia-based company to apply lifecycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate delivery packaging alternatives. In 2020, we assessed life cycles modeled for the use of HDPE, LDPE and raw-pulp paper bags by Yandex Lavka, all being common types of delivery bags.
Engaging with Partners and Users
Guidelines for supplier
Yandex Lavka makes shopping for groceries easier than ever – the goods that are picked online get delivered to the doorstep. However, to make that happen, the service needs to preserve ordered items from being damaged as well as to comply with food safety requirements, which involves using wrapping and packaging.
Acknowledging environmental impacts associated with the use of packaging, we have developed guidelines for our private label manufacturers, ready meals producers, and fruit & vegetable suppliers. Based on insights of environmental experts and inputs from our suppliers, the guidelines aim to facilitate the transition to more sustainable materials and help design products that demonstrate improved environmental performance.
Recycling tips for users
By building awareness about different types of materials and available recycling options, we hope to encourage our users to divert as much waste from disposal as possible. We have developed a dedicated portal with useful information about how to read recycling symbols, how to prepare packaging for recycling, and where to find recycling drop-off locations in different cities.
Plastic utensils are nearly impossible to recycle due to their size and inconsistent materials. As a step to reduce plastic waste, Yandex Eats app offers users to opt-out from supplementary plastic utensils by default, and we instruct restaurant partners not to include single-use items like plastic cutlery and napkins with food delivery orders unless the user specifically asks for it.
Keeping Materials in Use
Keeping Materials in Use
In order to ensure high level of productivity, Yandex regularly upgrades electronic devices used by employees. Regular replacement, however, results in many laptops, monitors, cellphones and other gadgets reaching their end-of-life while they are still fully operational. To keep old electronics in use for as long as possible, Yandex sells it to employees for a small price.
Between 2018 and 2021, 5,419 devices found new owners. Electronics that cannot be reused is handed over to recycling partners for reprocessing.
Smart devices recycling
Yandex has partnered with a recycling organization to recover materials and valuable elements that Yandex’s smart devices are made of, and to ensure environmentally safe disposal of any non-recyclables. The partner is responsible for disassembling the electronics, separating compounds and preparing materials for sale or reuse.
The first batch of equipment was processed in 2021. Nearly 100% of materials, including metals, rubber and plastics, got recovered, and 100% of mainboards and chips were extracted for reuse. Recovered plastic can be converted into high-quality granules or into fuel, while recycled rubber can be applied in constriction.
