
Since sustainability has never been more popular, businesses must immediately adapt.
How is your company making an effort to be more ecologically friendly? Although being a straightforward question, it frequently leaves corporate types perplexed.
Since the pandemic, online sales have boomed, making digital retailers a particular focus. Other businesses are also being examined in the hopes that they may serve as bulwarks of actual growth.
The fact that a third (33%) of UK businesses now have a dedicated sustainability team or individual shows that many businesses are taking notice.
Simply put, customers demonstrating that they are more likely to stick with firms that prioritise sustainability. Here are five simple changes that business owners should think about.
1. Repurpose and re-use.
Can your company take the initiative rather than relying on customers to recycle your products once they’ve served their purpose?
One of the biggest companies to use this method is Apple, which offers money off a new phone in exchange for posting your old one to the group in the box supplied. While the British clothing company Seasalt offers clients the chance to return worn products to certain stores, guaranteeing that clothing receives a second life, Levi’s offers money off new clothes if you return used ones.
2. Be transparent about your carbon footprint and supply chain
The need to be open and honest about your company procedures has never been greater. Consumers are curious in the origin of items, the manufacturing location, and the ingredients utilised. Are they made in the most environmentally friendly manner possible, and are the workers being paid a living wage?
If anything, eco-friendly companies are gaining popularity; two examples are Tony’s Chocolate and Karma Coke, both of which were developed with longevity and ethical business practices in mind.
Another example is the manufacturer of dog food, Different Dog. Not only does it support green energy initiatives around the globe, but it also buys food that is sourced locally whenever feasible and uses compostable packaging.
Informing your customers about your efforts to quantify, cut back on, or offset your carbon footprint will boost positive sentiment toward your business. Although price is a burden and not all customers want to spend more, small changes can have a big impact.
3. Reduce delivery rates.
Reducing delivery rates is the worst thing you can do if you want to grow your business, right? Wrong!
In order for merchants to send distinct deliveries together and contribute to environmental sustainability, more digital firms are allowing customers to choose extended delivery times at the point of sale.
Many click-and-collect options are offered by companies like Screwfix and Ikea, while John Lewis lets consumers pick up things from a few garden centers, reducing the need for house deliveries and the associated costs.
4. The trend is to rent.
Customers have no problem renting a movie from Amazon rather than buying it or renting a tuxedo for a particular event. Today, a lot of retailers are expanding this to other markets.
At John Lewis, you can rent apparel and accessories for as little as NGN6,800.00 for up to 20 days. All products come with a return bag. Last year, the autumn/winter collection from Marks & Spencer made its debut on the rental marketplace Hirestreet.
Could renting clothes become the newest big thing?
5. Make packaging a top focus.
In the UK, over 4.2 billion packages were sent in 2020–21, an increase of 1.3 billion packages over the previous year. Many environmentally concerned businesses are now making sure their packaging practices are more eco-friendly.
Adore, a digital cosmetics company
Climate change is a major worldwide issue, thus it’s important that internet shops and businesses pay attention. Customers want more options, and sustainability must become a top focus for all businesses, tiny start-ups included.
Make the significant adjustments that will really matter. Get advantages over time by taking the lead in environmental digital innovation.
uses warehouse management software to determine the sizes and weights of its goods and make sure the smallest package is utilised for every order. While using LimeLoop, online merchants offer customers the option of receiving their purchases in the old packaging.