Hard Numbers: Global packaging boom, livestreamed peaches, the art of 1s and 0s, e-commerce’s share of the pie

Chinese workers load a van with parcels, most of which are from online shopping, at a distribution center in Shanghai.
Chinese workers load a van with parcels, most of which are from online shopping, at a distribution center in Shanghai.
Reuters

63.6: All those e-commerce goods have to be shipped in something, right? The global market for envelopes, tubes, mailers, and other protective packaging is projected to hit $63.6 billion this year, nearly double where it stood in 2019.

70: A peach farmer in Beijing’s farm-rich Pinggu district was able to sell 70kg (155 pounds) of the fruits every day during this year’s harvest season, thanks to livestreaming her work and selling online. Back in 2017, the local government launched a massive initiative to bring local farmers onto e-commerce platforms.

20: Online sales in 2021 accounted for 20% of the global $65 billion art market. That’s twice the share of 2019, before the pandemic gave a boost to e-commerce in art.

14.5: E-commerce accounted for 14.5% of all retail sales in the US in the second quarter of this year, according to the US Fed. That’s up 3 points since the eve of the pandemic and is a full 10 times higher than it was two decades ago.

More from GZERO Media

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting on the situation in Belgorod, Kursk, and Bryansk regions following an incursion of Ukrainian troops, in August 2024.
Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via REUTERS

The long-prepared move came just hours after Ukraine launched US-made ATACMS long-range missiles into Russia for the first time. Are we headed towards a major escalation?

Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump dances accompanied by Melania Trump, after speaking following early results from the 2024 U.S. presidential election in Palm Beach County Convention Center, in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., November 6, 2024.

Is it a political statement or just a fun dance? Either way, the “Trump dance” is spreading across the sports world like wildfire.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at a ceremony for military combat officers at an army base near Mitzpe Ramon, Israel, October 31, 2024.
REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Netanyahu says that even if there is a cease-fire in Lebanon, Israel will still need to operate against Hezbollah to prevent it from regaining strength — a position that could prove to be a sticking point as the US works to get a deal across the finish line.

Walmart is helping customers save more this holiday season with a 29-item Thanksgiving spread at an even lower price than last year. Now through Dec. 24, customers can count on Walmart’s Every Day Low Prices for a delicious and affordable holiday meal to enjoy with their families. The retailer is also offering customers the opportunity to gift a meal to loved ones or donate to the Salvation Army. Learn how Walmart helps customers save money and live better all season long.

Microsoft’s latest Impact Summary highlights the influence of AI and how it’s shaping key initiatives like bridging the digital skills gap, promoting responsible AI, and advancing sustainability.In the past year, AI has tackled some of the world's toughest problems, from monitoring the Amazon rainforest to providing diagnostic tools in remote areas. Ultimately, AI has the potential to bring education, healthcare, and opportunity to everyone, everywhere. Read the full report outlining Microsoft’s efforts, progress, and outcomes over the last year.

Courtesy of Midjourney

Donald Trump isn’t finished nominating his presidential Cabinet — and some of his top candidates might have a tricky time getting confirmed. Still, his early picks already offer signs about how the president-elect might direct his federal government’s approach to artificial intelligence.

A microchip and the Taiwanese flag in an illustration.

Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Reuters

The Biden administration finalized an agreement to pay Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company more than $11 billion in combined grants and loans meant to support the Taiwanese company’s chipmaking plans to build manufacturing facilities in the United States.