As retailers struggle to handle holiday gift returns, some turn to tech for faster and more sustainable options

Christmas may be in the rearview mirror but now the country is moving into a post-holiday tradition: returning all those unwanted holiday gifts.

With online sales expected to hit a record this year, returns could reach new heights, too. But many retailers are not equipped to take their products back, with a big chunk of those returns ending up in landfills every year. 

That is why some online retailers are now trying to help companies deal with a tsunami of returns — while making the business of returning products more sustainable.