Becoming For You’s Environmental Efforts
So far, 2020 has been full of unexpected, world-shocking events. Many industries and niches have been shaken to the bones, and things will never be the same. Money has made a significant shift, and most online-related businesses are better than before, while many small local ones took a massive blow. E-commerce is one of those industries that will continue to blossom as more and more people move to shop online.
Sustainability is not a negligible factor for online shops. The growing trend of environmental sustainability is humanity’s reflex to fight the destructive nature of the “grow or die” imperative of capitalism. In e-commerce, the concept of sustainability can range from business models to packaging products, and its role will become increasingly important in the coming years.
To put this into perspective, more than 2 billion tons of waste end up in landfills worldwide annually. All those cardboard boxes, plastic packing puffs, and Styrofoam have to be disposed of somewhere… and more often than not, that “somewhere” is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
However, there is some hope left. For example, the sheer volume of waste produced by the supply-chain network and its dire impact on the environment has already rendered it necessary for e-commerce companies to rethink their practices and find sustainable solutions within the industry — most notably by adopting eco-friendly packaging.
The primary purpose of this article is to provide you with the latest information regarding the e-commerce carbon footprint, bring the e-commerce emissions issue to your awareness, and present you with a tangible solution that will enable you to be as environmentally conscious as possible, especially if you are considering to start your own online business.
In this article, we will also take a closer look at the environmental impact of e-commerce, how all eCommerce owners can and should do their best to help keep the carbon footprint of online shopping as low as possible.
We will also go through Becoming For You’s milestone on shifting their packaging materials from complete plastic to biodegradable gift wrappers and biodegradable plastic envelopes!
First, a few terms.
Carbon footprint
Refers to the weight, usually in metric tons, of greenhouse gases, which warm the earth’s atmosphere. Examples include carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane generated by everyday human activities.
E-commerce emissions
The footprint of your online store will vary based on what you’re selling, the size of your store and the way your items are packaged and delivered.
It will also depend on where your customer base is, how much they use impatient or rushed delivery and how often they return things.
Is e-commerce really better for the environment than traditional retail?
Is online shopping more environmentally friendly? Is online shopping better for the environment than going to the store? These questions are asked regularly and are of extreme importance.
Being environmentally conscious in 2020 as a business owner or an individual is no longer a choice. It is a must and a responsibility we must all take on our shoulders as our environment is taking a heavy blow. Of course, the level of environmental awareness varies from country to country, from region to region. However, the world needs us all to do our very best and ensure that the carbon emission is kept as low as possible and that we try to offset the rest.
One study cited in the report suggests that online shopping may have a lower carbon footprint than traditional in-store shopping because of more efficient logistics. Nevertheless, the determination of the environmental impact of E-Commerce is complicated by a range of considerations, including local transportation practices, the type of delivery vehicles used by merchants, and the type of packaging materials used among the many.
The high return rate of fashion items, one of the leading categories of E-Commerce globally, attracts the attention of those concerned about the environmental consequences of online shopping. A January 2019 survey cited in the publication reflected that over a third of online shoppers returned a purchased item in the previous three months.
The consequences to the environment of returns are that they involve double transportation and may require disposal rather than resale :(
How can I reduce the footprint of my store’s items?
Change your packaging
Packaging makes up at least half of the footprint of an online sale.
Cardboard and paper is the most sustainable choice. What’s more, a study found that 1/3 of consumers were choosing products based on environmentally friendly packaging.
Reduce fast delivery & returns
Fast deliveries add a significant increase to the carbon footprint of your store.
If possible, avoid offering fast delivery. Explain to customers that regular delivery is more sustainable and efficient.
Climate change is front and centre in the news. How businesses can make a positive impact is not well understood. I’ll provide an overview in this post.
And getting deliveries right the first time is just half the problem. Online returns and failed deliveries happen in nearly one-third of online purchases and thus doubles their carbon footprint.
What we thought were once eco-conscious shopping habits have, in fact, left a long trail of emissions along the way. In the interim, as we wait for the next generation of sustainable freight and innovative delivery solutions to emerging, it is more important than ever to take action today.
The future of e-commerce lies in
sustainable fulfilment
Opting for sustainable fulfilment solutions can greatly benefit your e-commerce business by successfully addressing the increasing demand for sustainability from your consumers.
70% of millennials say that a company’s environmental focus influences their purchase decisions and would rather choose environmentally friendly shipping.
More than half (57%) of surveyed online shoppers state that they are willing to change their purchasing habits to help reduce negative environmental impact.
Becoming For Your reducing it’s Carbon Footprint
While the Covid-19 pandemic may have propelled the growth of the e-commerce sector, a shift in shopper preferences and the convenience the segment offers indicate that it will continue to boom even after the outbreak recedes in the future in Bhutan.
However, this trend in its current format — and with expected forecasts — appears unsustainable as the growing consumer base and purchasing power will have adverse environmental implications on a broader scale. Rising demand for online shopping and time-definite deliveries is expected to heavily weigh on sustainability as urban density, air pollution and traffic congestion scale.
The rationale behind Bhutan’s environmentally unsustainable E-commerce businesses.
Rapid urbanisation, increased number of online customers, product availability, rise in demand for faster delivery of parcels are some of the factors contributing to the growth of emission from E-businesses.
High cost associated with failed delivery due to lack of address systems in the country and non-availability of customers, dissatisfaction of the service resulting in product return, poor route planning and the use of inefficient transport vehicles adds up to the carbon footprint of package delivery, vehicle noise pollution and urban congestion, are the factors which make it relevant.
However, Becoming For You has always been a step ahead when it comes to the e-commerce emissions and was aware and concerned about the environmental impacts that could be made to the country. Therefore, the team decided to go green as much as possible and cut down wherever possible to reduce its carbon footprint.
We recognise that the long-term health of our business is directly connected to the health of our planet and local communities, and that’s why we’re committed to ‘reduce, replace, revolutionise’, which we apply across key areas like logistic efficiency, vehicle efficiency, sustainable facilities, and sustainable materials and recycling when and wherever possible — Becoming For You
Becoming For You’s Sustainable packaging materials!
Any online business must have premium, high quality based packaging materials for its products. The materials protect the products from hazards such as water, direct sunlight, and physical damages during the logistics; it also promotes the business’s brand.
Every online business has its initials and logos on the packaging materials, and this creates an awareness to the consumer and other people about the company. However, most of these materials are harmful to the environment and might not degrade for a long time or not at all. Packaging materials such as cardboard boxes, transparent plastics, packing puffs, and styrofoam could remain longer than the business itself.
Since most of these packaging materials are often disposed of as they serve no purpose once the product has been removed, Becoming For You wanted to ensure that at least the disposed of products caused minimum harm to the community and the environment.
To list out the packaging materials used by the team are:
Biodegradable Wrapping Papers
Biodegradable Plastic envelopes (Small)
Biodegradable Plastic envelopes (Large)
Biodegradable Paper Gift bag
Becoming For You to store its returned products in the Boutique
The customers often return few products as the size does not match the customer, or when they change their minds about the products, most of these products were previously returned to the suppliers, causing unnecessary additional expenses to the team. As mentioned before earlier, one of the main reasons for the carbon emissions by e-commerce businesses is due to the returning of the products.
The logistics of this return policy has incurred additional expenses and increase the carbon footprint of the business. Therefore, Becoming For You will store and display the returned products for sale at the newly opened Becoming For You boutique.
This method will not ensure that the expenses are reduced but also help reduce the carbon footprint of the business!
Becoming For You’s Sustainble Logistic Partners
Becoming For You chooses the best logistics partner when it comes to their products being delivered safely and efficiently. These international logistic companies have been focusing on reducing their carbon footprints and committing to sustainable logistic methods in the future to protect the environment.
DHL
DHL offers environmentally friendly shipping for all packages. GoGreen environmental protection program encompasses a set of climate protection projects that offset greenhouse gas emissions arising during parcel transport.
“There is no way around sustainable logistics in the future. We are deciding today what kind of world we and our children will live in 30 years from now. And our aspiration is to make a substantial contribution to ensure that this will be an even better world.” — Dr. Frank Appel, CEO of Deutsche Post DHL Group
FedEx
Our target: Carbon neutrality by 2040 Our roots in sustainability run deep. Now we’re driving toward what’s next: A goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations globally by 2040.
To get there, we’re designating more than $2 billion of initial investment in three key areas: vehicle electrification, sustainable energy, and carbon sequestration.
“We have a responsibility to take bold action in addressing climate challenges.” — Frederick W. Smith, Chairman and CEO, FedEx Corp
In summary, environmental sustainability and e-commerce are compatible, and implementing sustainable measures to your online business represents an excellent opportunity for business growth.
The world is changing, and we — consumers and retailers — must change with it. Those who are courageous and responsible enough to take the step and lead the way into the era of sustainable business will undoubtedly benefit from it.
The green trend is growing, and customers are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental issues and e-commerce’s role in saving the environment. They attach great importance to environmentally friendly shipping and sustainable fulfilment and insist on a sustainable design of fair and durable products.
Becoming a green e-commerce company does not necessarily mean a significant financial burden, especially not in the long run. It’s even great for your marketing activities and helps you gain a positive brand image on the market as a responsible retailer.
Now is your chance to use this knowledge and implement a sustainable strategy for your online shop. This can be done by adapting your product range to the growing needs of your customers or adding new product categories which are environmentally sustainable. This is particularly worthwhile for shop owners in the fashion, home or beauty sectors since there is a high consumer’s willingness to buy ecological and sustainable products.
Becoming For You recognises that the long-term health of our business is directly connected to the health of our planet and local communities, and that’s why we’re committed to ‘reduce, replace, revolutionise’, which we apply across key areas like logistic efficiency, vehicle efficiency, sustainable facilities, and sustainable materials and recycling when and wherever possible
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make.” — Jane Goodall.
