Consumers are placing a higher value on eco-friendly product selections.
After 2020, U.S. customers are expected to be 1.3 times more willing to pay premium pricing for sustainable products, according to data from Meta Foresight (previously Facebook IQ). Businesses would be wise to join the environmental movement.
Here are 5 green business practices you may implement in your online store.
Sustainable online shopping.
1. reevaluate your profits.
Returns are a hassle, an expense, and a waste of time for businesses. The ability to return an item in a timely manner, however, is a major factor in influencing customers’ final decisions. Customers are more likely to return if their returns are processed smoothly.
It can be difficult to institute a returns policy that is also environmentally beneficial. Three options are outlined below.
- Avoid making it too convenient for customers to send items back. It is common practise to discourage return requests by customers by only refunding the cost of the item and not the shipping cost.
- Provide a number of different return methods, preferably across all of your channels. Try to get customers to drop off returns at a nearby business. Reduce your business’s carbon footprint while giving customers a choice by setting up easy-to-use return hubs.
- Make the product descriptions better. Having an accurate product description can help cut down on returns. Provide specifics such as size, weight, and colour options. Create a FAQ page and adapt your product descriptions to reflect the most frequently asked inquiries.
2.Only package items that are absolutely necessary.
Worldwide, governments are enforcing stringent packaging laws. Simple adjustments to your packing procedures will allow you to conform to these regulations, cater to your customers’ tastes, and reduce your negative influence on the environment.
Reduce your use of plastic bags and bubble wrap. Instead, stuff the box with shredded cardboard. Check how well string works as an alternative to plastic packing tape for sealing boxes.
3. Think carefully about the vendors you have available.
When feasible, buy products that have been recycled or can be recycled. The materials used to make recycled packaging are both more affordable and more widely available than those used to make disposable packaging. If you need supplies or resources, think about buying them in the United States rather than elsewhere. Get a discount for buying in bulk and lessen your impact on the environment.
4. Make a profit off of resold returned items.
Often, returns that are still serviceable but no longer in perfect condition might be resold at a discounted price. When returning anything, please include a detailed and truthful description. Potential customers will be receptive to a discount, and you’ll boost sales and cut down on waste as a result.
5. Refresh your company’s image.
Changing the look and feel of your online store’s brand can help you show that you care about the environment. Start by informing your employees, partners, and other stakeholders about the upcoming changes and outlining how they will improve the company and its consumers.
The About Us section of your site is the perfect place to detail your environmental practises. Please elaborate on how they intend to enhance the service they provide to their customers. Communicate the message via online platforms, emails, and blogs.
You should make sure that the updates you make to your About Us page are reflected in other places of your site. Consumers should be informed of any plans to limit the number of trips made by delivery vehicles or the total number of hours they spend on the road. Promote your company’s dedication to become more environmentally friendly.
Including a catchy tagline like “We’re Working Towards an Eco-Friendly Future” next to your product descriptions is an easy way to let customers know that you care about the environment.
Don’t be a Greenwasher.
The term “Greenwashing” refers to the act of making misleading claims about a company’s commitment to environmental responsibility. It’s bad for company to make assertions you can’t back up with evidence.
In 2019, for instance, H&M promoted their “Conscious” line of eco-friendly clothing. In the absence of supporting evidence, the Norwegian Consumer Authority deemed the claim to be misleading.
