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.
10934 metric tons in 2021.
3250 metric tons in 2022.
6356 metric tons in 2023.
Yandex Market fulfillment centers saw a doubling in the number of orders shipped compared to 2022, whereas the growth in packaging volumes consumed was behind this increase by 28 percentage points, and the average packaging cost per order was halved from 2022.
Cardboard — 74% Paper — 11% Recyclable plastic — 4% Other — 6%
Cardboard — 52% Recyclable plastic — 32% Paper — 13% Other — 3%
Cardboard — 47% Recyclable plastic — 42% Paper — 6% Other — 5%
Paper bags — 2% Tape – 1% Other — 1%
Tape — 2% Other — 1%
Tape — 2% Other — 1%
Cardboard — 74% Paper — 11% Recyclable plastic — 4% Other — 6%
Cardboard — 52% Recyclable plastic — 32% Paper — 13% Other — 3%
Cardboard — 47% Recyclable plastic — 42% Paper — 6% Other — 5%
Paper bags — 2% Tape – 1% Other — 1%
Tape — 2% Other — 1%
Tape — 2% Other — 1%
Yandex Market Packaging Stats, Packaging by Type Pie Charts.
96% of packaging from materials that can be recycled or reused in 2021. Tooltip – 74% of packaging is cardboard, 11% is paper, 4% is recyclable plastic (stretch film), 6% is other materials.
97% of packaging from materials that can be recycled or reused in 2022. Tooltip – 52% of packaging is cardboard, 32% is recyclable plastic (LDPE bags and stretch film), 13% is paper, 3% is other materials.
97% of packaging from materials that can be recycled or reused in 2023. Tooltip – 47% of packaging is cardboard, 42% is recyclable plastic (LDPE bags and stretch film), 6% is paper, 5% is other materials.
Switch to show the share of packaging from virgin materials.
From recycled or reused materials
Highlighted Facts
97%
of all Yandex Market delivery packaging is recyclable, and nearly 60% is made from reused or recycled materials
> 20%
of orders were delivered to Yandex Market pickup points without additional transport packaging
100%
of Yandex Lavka delivery bags were made from sustainable materials as well as 70% of food packaging units produced under Yandex Lavka's private label
6,126 metric tons
of single-use cardboard boxes were avoided by Yandex Lavka by adopting circular solutions for delivery
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. These optimization measures allow us to reduce 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 suppliers
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. To make it easier for users to understand whether packaging is recyclable, Yandex Lavka adds recycling codes to the cards of private label goods and ready-to-eat food supplied by vendors. We also have a dedicated portal with useful information on preparing packaging for recycling.
Recyclable waste collection points can be found on Yandex Maps, where we have added a dedicated layer with more than 40,000 collection points that have been verified by our external partners.
In 2023, Yandex Lavka launched a circular initiative to collect 2HDPE bags from users for recycling when they receive their orders. To return a bag, users simply select this option in the app when placing an order. Upon delivery, the courier collects the bags, seals them in a designated bag, and drops them off at a dark store, where our partner picks them up for recycling.
Each time users return bags, they earn Yandex Plus points equivalent to the delivery packaging fee. These points can be used across Yandex services.
Since the program launch, 17.5 metric tons of delivery bags have been collected, of which 16 metric tons of bags have been prepared for recycling.
Keeping Materials in Use
Office Waste Recycling
Yandex introduced separate waste collection in its offices several years ago. Currently, it is available in Moscow, our eight regional offices, and at some other facilities.
In Moscow, for example, our separate waste collection system is logistically optimized and fully transparent: we transport office waste to our logistics facility in the Moscow Region before sending it for recycling. We maintain precise knowledge about our recyclable office waste because we only work with reliable recycling partners who provide regular reports.
In addition to cardboard, paper, plastic, glass, and metal, we also collect and recycle textiles, batteries, and even electronic cigarettes. In 2023, more than 150 metric tons of office waste was sent for recycling.
Employees who dispose of waste in separate bins in offices help support both our environmental effort and ongoing charitable initiatives. In 2023, we earned over RUB 1 million from recycling cardboard and plastic, and during the Ecomarathon for employees. These funds were donated to the Helping Hand Foundation (RU) to support ongoing charitable programs.
Electronics Recycling
To extend the life cycle of outdated but working office equipment, we provide our employees with the opportunity to purchase it at discounted prices. Retired equipment that no longer works is sent for recycling. In 2023, over 1,300 pieces of corporate equipment have been purchased by employees, and 500 kilograms of retired equipment was sent for recycling.
In addition to collecting and recycling corporate equipment, we also do the same for employees’ personal devices. Twice a year, we organize three types of collection points at our offices: for consumer electronics, accessories, and data storage devices. In 2023, 10 cities had recycling bins in Yandex offices for employees’ personal devices. In total, 948 kilograms of equipment was collected and sent for recycling, of which over 900 kilograms of metal, plastic, and glass were extracted, recycled, and reused as secondary materials.
We work with an e-waste recycling partner to recycle our equipment. The devices are sent to a facility for sorting, disassembly, compression, or melting, depending on their components. Our recycling partner provides detailed reports specifying the recycling results.
