The production, manufacturing, distribution, and sales of goods has dramatically evolved over the years. For generations, the only way to buy things was to go to the store and physically take them home, but modern technology has supplied other options. In 2020, eCommerce has exploded, and more people than ever are shopping online. Most people think convenience or safety are the best parts of online shopping and home delivery, but many people overlook a green benefit. ECommerce has undoubtedly changed millions of people’s shopping habits, but many of those customers and companies don’t realize how many eco-friendly eCommerce sites offer. Next time you buy or sell something online, consider how the technology is convenient for you but also helps the planet.
Sustainable Goal
The goal of most eco-friendly projects or ideas is to achieve sustainability. Sustainability is generally defined as the point when doing something does not deplete natural resources, and the process can be safely maintained without damaging the environment. Or put another way, sustainability is the goal of being able to do something to meet needs in the present without damaging the needs of the future. For years, striving for sustainability often meant taking a less convenient and more expensive route. Businesses aiming for sustainability must balance economy, environment, and social barriers to find a way to make a product people want to buy sustainably while turning a profit to keep the doors open.
Rise In Popularity
Unfortunately, considering how our actions negatively impact the planet is a relatively new popular idea, but business has jumped on the bandwagon to make the most of the rise of green living. Nowadays, it is not uncommon to see direct response marketing, social media posts, email blasts, and even package labels promoting sustainable, green, recyclable, or reused materials. Physical mailers are one of the most wasteful marketing options, and many companies focusing on sustainability have ditched mailers accordingly as the digital market gains more and more market share. As more customers demand or are willing to pay a little more for environmentally friendly, more companies are making products that fit those green criteria. As more companies join the movement, the wider the green and the sustainable market becomes, which lowers the carbon footprint of industries and commerce as a whole. While making sustainable products is a fantastic and long overdue step, selling those products requires an additional solution. Thankfully, technology supplied eCommerce around the same time manufacturers adopted greener thinking so that we can combine the two methods for an even better result.
Selling Online And Green
More people are shopping online and leading eco-conscious lives than ever before, and those two trends blend beautifully. Instead of a customer driving their car to the store, the store using energy to keep the store operational, packing the customer’s purchase in a bag, and then the customer driving home, the customer can have their items delivered to their front door. Cutting out much of the energy usage and pollution makes home delivery a much greener option, but it can get even better.
Many brands have embraced eco-friendly packaging, both the packaging of the item itself and the shipping packaging. TOMS is one major brand that has built much of its brand off of sustainability and humanitarian efforts. TOMS’ packaging is made of 80% recycled materials, and new companies like Packhelp have popped up to help more traditional sellers transition to eco-friendly packaging geared for online retailers. Like any new technology or movement, it will take time for the industry standard to move towards carbon-neutral, but we are already making the right steps in that direction.
Customers are ready for these changes, as many have repeatedly said in polls that they are willing to pay more for an eco-friendly or sustainable item. Offering green products online will also increase your brand loyalty, particularly among the ever-elusive millennial demographic. If you sell green products online that are well-made, come in eco-friendly packaging, and make your efforts known, you will receive fantastic PR and customer impressions. The green living movement is far beyond hippies over 30 years ago, and going green is a legitimate way for your business to draw in new customers who care about our planet’s future.
