Sustainable Returns Management at ROSE

We at ROSE are proud to be the first German company from the bike industry and the second company ever to have been awarded the "Save Our Returns" seal and prove that we deal with our returns in a sustainable and responsible manner.

The best return doesn’t happen in the first place

Germany will be the "European returns champion" in 2021 with 530 million returned parcels. This is mainly due to a longer return periods compared to the EU average and a general lack of fees. And the victims of this are the additional resources, transport routes and the environment. In 2021 alone, parcels caused an estimated 795,000 tonnes of CO2, which is roughly the same amount as if almost 135,000 cars were to circumnavigate the globe. Each return costs on average €6.95, although this can vary greatly depending on the size of the retailer. 

Why are ordered goods returned?

There are many reasons why goods are returned. In a survey (Statista 2022), customers cited the following reasons:


How can we work together to avoid returns?

For most customers, online shopping has become a part of normal life. Even with numerous physical stores, we at ROSE make 80% of our sales via the online shop. When shopping for clothing, accessories and the like, customers often make a selection of several sizes and designs and return the rest easily with the enclosed return slip. This is how it works with almost every mail order business. In order to keep the number of returns as low as possible, we offer various size tables for our products. Customers just have to get out the tape measure to find out the perfect size for themselves. In Germany, almost every fourth parcel is returned. Together with you, we at ROSE have managed to continuously reduce our returns rate and are well below the German average. This is also because ROSE is constantly working to ensure that customers receive the right goods and our team has designed an online shop to facilitate this.

And what if you do have to return goods?

If parcels do need to be returned, then that is ok. The products that come back to us are by no means rubbish. They are carefully sifted through by our staff, evaluated and repackaged instead of disposed of. This means that they can be subsequently resold – if necessary as B-stock – which keeps CO2 emissions and resource consumption as low as possible. We have been awarded the Save Our Returns seal for our sustainable returns process. 

The Save Our Returns Seal

Save Our Returns GmbH has set itself the goal of helping companies to avoid unnecessary returns and to recycle returned goods in a sustainable way. For this purpose, it awards the "Save Our Returns" seal to certified online shops that demonstrably handle their returns in a sustainable manner. So the customer can place a purchase with a clear conscience, even if something has to be returned.

Sustainability is one of ROSE's core values, which is why as a bike brand we pay special attention to making the product life cycle as long as possible – even if it requires extra effort. Quality and thus durability of the products is also at the top of our priority list when selecting partners and developing, building, or manufacturing our own bikes, clothing, parts, and accessories.

On 11 August 2022, an auditor from the DQS GmbH visited us in Bocholt and got a first-hand picture of the returns processing on site. Following their thorough examination, the certificate was handed over directly afterwards. When shopping online at ROSE and hopefully in many other shops in the future, customers can look for the "Save Our Returns" seal and thus help – officially even – to protect the climate and resources and to support retailers who take responsibility: For their products and services as well as for our world.


References:
Asdecker, B./Felch, V./Karl, D. (2022): "European Return-o-Meter – Ergebnisbericht Teil 1: Deutschland vs. Rest-EU"
Statista (2022): Aus welchem Grund haben Sie die im Internet bestellte Ware retourniert?
Save Our Returns (2022)