Sustainability is the new buzzword in multiple industries. It covers everything from clothing and manufacturing to agriculture and many other areas. Ecommerce businesses such as yours can also be sustainable. You can still make a difference for the planet by shopping online and minimizing waste from your customers.
Is it really worth taking a sustainable approach? How can you make your ecommerce business sustainable? We’ll discuss several reasons why green ecommerce strategies should be adopted as soon as possible.
What makes sustainability in ecommerce worthwhile?
It is a smart strategy to bring sustainability and eco-friendliness into your ecommerce company. Due to their spending habits and age, millennials are likely to make up a significant portion of your customer base.
Millennials are more concerned about eco-friendliness than any other major generation. Companies can be chosen based on how they use green technology or their shipping practices. You must therefore consider sustainability if you wish to increase your brand’s recognition and appeal to millennials. You can also prioritize sustainability for the following reasons:
73% of consumers said they would change their consumption habits to reduce the environmental impact. Certain surveys show that most respondents are actively looking for eco-friendly products.
So, shifting to sustainable ecommerce business models is not only good for the environment but also for your bottom line.
How to practice Ecommerce Sustainability
What if your ecommerce business isn’t able to move towards more sustainable practices? There are simple ways to make your ecommerce business more sustainable.
Shift to Eco-Friendly Shipping
You can first offer eco-friendly shipping methods. You can offer climate-neutral shipping solutions by charging a small fee, usually not exceeding 5%, instead of offering free shipping. DHL GoGreen and GLS Think Green offer climate-neutral shipping solutions for ecommerce companies just like yours.
Are you worried that your customers will penalize you for switching? You should reconsider. Customers will often accept paying shipping costs as long as their products arrive on time. Shipping with eco-friendly shipping companies could still be a good option for you and your bottom line.
Reducing Returns
Returns are a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, and they also waste a lot time. You should therefore take all steps to minimize returns on your ecommerce store. This is possible by:
If a customer isn’t home at the time of delivery, it is possible to have deliveries rerouted to a packing station. Be as exact as you can when taking photos or describing your products. This reduces the chance of customers returning products that aren’t as expected.
Your ecommerce business will have a lower cost of shipping internationally and nationally by reducing returns. This will result in a reduction of greenhouse gases.
Install a recycling program
You might consider implementing a recycling program in your business. You and your employees can recycle aluminum cans, paper and other recyclable materials if you have a small ecommerce business.
Although it is not a huge step in the long-term, every little bit helps when we talk about saving the planet. You may be eligible for a tax credit depending on how much you recycle. Make sure you record all your recyclables with accounting software that includes receipt tracking and expense tracking.
Modify your packaging
There’s a chance that your packaging needs some streamlining and repair. Try to use sustainable and recyclable packaging materials whenever possible. You can also switch to regular or wax paper wrappers instead of plastic because it is difficult to break down.
These are not only better for the environment but also give your brand an extra uniqueness that could help increase its profits over the long-term. You should also avoid packaging waste. Your boxes don’t require Styrofoam popcorn, or any other filler materials. You can stuff your packages with more paper, or use sustainable shipping materials if you need to. You can do your part to help the planet by reducing shipping and packaging waste.
Offer Green Products
You may be able, depending on the industry and brand you are in, to sell green or eco-friendly products directly. If you sell clothes online, make sure to offer clothes made of sustainable materials and eco-friendly brands.
These eco-friendly products can quickly become a bestseller for your ecommerce store, given the millennials’ emphasis on sustainability.
Reduce Energy Consumption
You will need to consume a lot of energy when you run an ecommerce company. You can reduce your brand’s energy consumption by using strategies such as:
Multiple payment options available. Recent statistics show that 42% of customers prefer an online bank to manage their small business finances. Make sure customers can pay you quickly and easily to draw business to your brand and improve eco-friendlinessSwitching to an eco-friendly hosting provider. Hosting providers often do all they can to reduce waste electricity and donate some profits to green initiatives that improve the environment. Streamlining your website is one way. Your website will load faster and use less server resources. This will save you money.
In conclusion
Sustainability is an important market force in ecommerce. It is not likely to disappear. It is wiser to embrace this trend than to ignore it, especially when you are trying to attract new customers to your ecommerce shop. This will help ensure that your profits last a long time.
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By: Shanice Jones
Title: Sustainable Ecommerce–What It Is and Why Your Business Should Adopt It
Sourced From: www.volusion.com/blog/sustainable-ecommerce-what-it-is-and-why-your-business-should-adopt-it/
Published Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2022 15:05:00 GMT
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