How can a business reduce its Shipping footprint?
By 2030, urban last-mile delivery emissions – which is the journey that gets a product to the consumer – are set to increase by more than 30% in 100 cities globally, according to the World Economic Forum.
Be warned; to meet demand, there could be 36% more e-commerce delivery vehicles driving around inner cities by the end of the decade – meaning more emissions, more pollution, and more congestion.
Online shopping and rushed deliveries are the new normal. We’re asking today:
How can businesses reduce their “E-Commerce” footprint?
1. Find a Green Shipping Company:
Some shipping companies are committed to low emission transportation and low waste packaging.
Do your research: Do some online searching and find a courier business that has factored their carbon footprint into their company mantra. Or, call and connect with other businesses to see what shipping options they favour.
A great example of a shipping company ‘doing it right!’ is BC-based, Novex Delivery Solutions:
“We are changing the way we deliver by providing our customers with carbon neutral deliveries either through electric vehicles or by offsetting emissions through hybrids and ultra low emission vehicles.
Key partnerships include Bullfrog Power, Offsetters, and most recently the United Way Social Purpose Institute.”
2. Recycled Mailers
Check out Eco-Enclose for a whole list of eco-friendly shipping options.
This Louisville-based business has a massive array of packaging options.
From mailers to tape to custom branding (which means the packaging can be tailored to fit your businesses style).
3. Avoid Returns
Avoid processing returns because of the fuel and pollution created in sending a product back. Have a pre-built return plan in place to mitigate this. Try minimize the potential for returns by:
– Uploading clear, high quality photos of products to your site.
– Include size and weight in the product description.
– Have an online chat function on your website so buyers can be ask pre-purchase questions.
– Send a quick email as items are mailed out to let them know their parcel is on it’s way and to ignite excitement!
4. Opt for Eco-Friendly Packaging
If you are shipping fragile objects, consider shipping with options other than Sytrofoam Peanuts (which are difficult to recycle and can take over 500 years to decompose).
There are plenty of new ideas on the market that biodegrade or are upcycled from materials like old newspaper.
Reuse packaging and let your customers know you have! Encourage them to reuse upon arrival (more on this to come!).
Author
Stephanie Ward
Stephanie started her journey towards a sustainable lifestyle young: at the age of 12, she started a ‘compost bin’ in a margarine container — and left it for her mum to find under the sink many weeks later … Needless to say, her eco-skills have improved since then! A vegan of 10+ years, a staunch animal welfare advocate, and an avid recycler, you’re most likely to find her on a hike, or in the garden.
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More is Better!
When shopping online, try to ship multiple items to the same address. If someone orders more than one item, and one item is slightly delayed, they’ll most probably be ok with waiting for both to arrive together.
Encourage your customers to chat with friends and family to collaborate on ordering.
This will help reduce the number of trips to one address. It’s best to buy more items than just one! This will shrink your shipping footprint.
6. Reuse Packaging
Encourage your customers to reuse the packaging.
Pass it on and keep using the same mailer when shipping out items or use it for a gift for someone else. Packaging can really be used multiple times and there is no need to buy new packaging materials if you can keep reusing them over and over again!
Our Business Member, Simply Natural Canada is a fantastic example of a company reducing, reusing, and recycling packaging!
We hope our shipping footprint blog post gave you some tips and ideas, whether you’re a business owner or an avid online shopper!
Business owners: What labels are you using and are they eco-friendly? Find out more on this often overlooked packaging element, in our blog post with Hub Labels at the button below.
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