Online shopping is hitting it’s prime this year in 2020. A lot of consumers are now making their purchases online and getting it delivered to their doorstep. Obviously, this is due to the current worldwide pandemic we are facing. But what implications does that mean for the environment? With more and more items being bought online, this results in an increase in the amount of packaging that ends up in landfills. Things such as boxes, air pillows, packing peanuts and bubble wrap is just the beginning.
So why is it important to be aware of the environmental impact that your business makes other than the obvious? Consumers are now taking into consideration what stance and values a company has on the environment when it comes to making purchases. According to Harvard Business Review “Consumers—particularly Millennials—increasingly say they want brands that embrace purpose and sustainability”. From Neilson’s Global Sustainability Report, demonstrating and showcasing a commitment to sustainability can also cause growth by 4% of your business while 66% of consumers say they are willing to pay more for sustainable brands.
So why is it important to be aware of the environmental impact that your business makes other than the obvious? Consumers are now taking into consideration what stance and values a company has on the environment when it comes to making purchases. According to Harvard Business Review “Consumers—particularly Millennials—increasingly say they want brands that embrace purpose and sustainability”. From Neilson’s Global Sustainability Report, demonstrating and showcasing a commitment to sustainability can also cause growth by 4% of your business while 66% of consumers say they are willing to pay more for sustainable brands.
There are a lot of environmentally friendly shipping options that you could use. A lot of them have to do with the packaging themselves. Companies have started making compostable plant based packing paper that breaks down within 180 days at home or 90 days in commercial conditions. There are biodegradable packing peanuts as well as paper tape. Another way is to package the item into something smaller. A vacuum seal could help shrink the item depending on what it is and thus decreasing the size of the box that is used to ship the item. An option to consider is to let consumers choose how they want their package shipped. A lot of the time items don’t need that extra packing paper or air pillow. So providing the option to choose if you want packing materials in your shipment can mean great help to the environment.
Finally, providing products that include FSC paper is a great option to show your commitment to sustainability. FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council. This is an organization that was formed in 1992 by multiple organizations to protect the forest and the livelihoods of those who depend on it. All of their paper goes through strict regulation to protect from deforestation. FSC also only works with those who go by their regulations, so they run through supply chains that also follow best practices. An interesting thing about FSC paper is that their products have a logo on them that is to certify that the item is sourced reliably. Below are some interesting products that include FSC paper.