Page 229 - Ebook HTKH 2024

receive large, bulky boxes with excessive layers of packaging, while the purchased items
are small and non-fragile. Moreover, many sellers use non-biodegradable materials in

packaging to save costs. Additionally, online food delivery can also harm the
environment, as sellers often use foam containers, plastic bags, and disposable cutlery
instead of simply providing reusable dishes.
Non-biodegradable materials such as plastic, bubble wrap, and tape are very
difficult to decompose in the natural environment, taking hundreds of years to break
down. Each type of plastic has a different decomposition period, often spanning
hundreds or even thousands of years. Meanwhile, animals that ingest these types of
waste can die, leading to the risk of extinction and causing ecological imbalances.

Table 1. Table of Decomposition Times for Some Types of E-commerce Waste

Source: Researchers collection and synthesis
E-commerce waste, if not properly managed, can directly affect the air and the

environment, including soil and water, specifically in the following ways:
First, when burning e-commerce waste, these materials will produce toxic
substances such as dioxins and furans, leading to air pollution, poisoning, affecting the
endocrine system, reducing immune function, and increasing the risk of cancer... for
human health.
Second, when e-commerce waste is landfilled, it prevents the soil from retaining

water and nutrients, and hinders the process of oxygen exchange in the soil, negatively
impacting plant growth. Furthermore, it can contaminate water sources and cause the
death of beneficial microorganisms in the soil. If plastic bags are carelessly discarded
into the environment, they can block drains, ditches, and canals, leading to wastewater
accumulation and flooding, which creates a breeding ground for disease-causing

221