Global online sales will hit $3.5 trillion this year (and are expected to rise to $24 trillion by 2025). But it’s not just the industry growing at a rapid rate. So to is the voice of the ‘conscious consumer’ and the need for eCommerce brands to embrace sustainability and planet-friendly policies.
The issue of sustainability can no longer be brushed under the carpet and it certainly doesn’t just affect the global giants of the retail world.
A recent survey by not-for-profit global movement Fashion Revolution found one in three consumers consider the environmental impact when shopping, with the majority feeling it was ‘important for fashion brands to reduce their long-term impacts on the world by addressing global poverty, climate change, environmental protection and gender inequality.’ This is huge, and requires urgent attention from those operating eCommerce stores. But how can you start being more sustainable, and how do you communicate your ethical status with your audience?
Packaging, waste and recycling
Have you considered the type of packaging your business is using for shipping? Have you explored ways to cut down on wastage? Do you use recyclable materials? While this process may seem time-consuming, it can help you build trust with your customers. It’s also a really easy way to demonstrate to consumers that you’re taking your commitments to the environment seriously.
Data collected by US start-up LimeLoop estimates around 165 billion packages are shipped in the US each year, with the cardboard equating to roughly 1 billion trees.
Ensuring the most appropriately sized cardboard box is used for a package makes sense. Not only does it reduce waste, but it also reduces the storage space being used during the shipping process.
Cardboard is by no means the only head scratcher. Plastics are a monumental issue for the global eCommerce world, and many companies have already started seeking out alternative methods for protecting their shipments.
Sooner or later, it may be that global governments impose legal requirements to seek out more eco-friendly alternatives.
Efficient delivery processes
How are your products being shipped from warehouse or shop to customer? Could you tighten up the delivery process? Are you using a shipping company that is doing all it can to improve its green credentials? These are all questions you should be asking when it comes to delivering products to your customers.
Offering customers “green delivery” slots is just one way companies are reacting. This typically groups deliveries in one location to reduce miles travelled and the overall environmental footprint. In the coming years, an increase in electric vehicles may also have an impact in this area.
Animal friendly
Animal welfare has long been a concern for the cosmetics and fashion industries, and rightly so. Online retailers can show their animal friendly credentials by auditing all of their suppliers and even stating their vegan and cruelty-free status. Businesses in the United States can even be PETA approved in the United States and RSPCA approved in the UK.
Give something back
Many companies offer clients the chance to help offset the carbon footprint involved in fulfilling their online purchases. This normally involves a customer paying slightly more for the product or by making a donation, with the aim this extra money will go towards helping the environment.
Go paperless
While this is nothing new, cutting down the amount of paperwork included in your shipments can help to make your business a little ‘greener’. Consider electronic invoices, shipping updates and proof-of-delivery notices.
The importance of ‘going green’
In the world of eCommerce, very little is actually required to set up shop. However when a business is ready to grow then it is inevitable that it has to consider the impact it has on the environment – especially in 2021 and beyond. By acting as green as you can from the get-go then making changes later down the line shouldn’t come as such a dramatic shock in the way you operate and strive to achieve a green eCommerce business.
While it may not be possible to roll out all available green policies immediately, communicating with your customers that you remain committed to the environment can pay dividends when it comes to making more sales.
Collect reviews for your green business
Once your business is committed to being sustainable, it’s time to gather and display reviews from your adoring customers. The HelpfulCrowd platform makes it easy for your business to acquire user-generated content from verified customers and display them in the most powerful conversion points across your website and social media channels. Sign up for a free demo today.
