Article

Eco e-commerce

12.10.2023

In recent years e-commerce has undergone a gigantic metamorphosis. The Covid-19 pandemic  caused Poles to switch to the net for their purchases – as many as 90% of Internet users buy online. Does  ecology matter to them? What should be done in order to make e-commerce more eco-friendly?

Understanding environmental issues and setting sustainable standards poses a real challenge for business. Reducing  negative impact on the environment is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity. In a study conducted by the Mobile Institute, over 85% of respondents notice environmental risks associated with e-commerce.

The most common non-ecological practices of e-shops

Therefore, what should be done to make a company operating in the net perceived as environmentally friendly?

Packaging

Undoubtedly, the weak point of Polish e-commerce is packaging. It turns out that 61% of consumers pay attention to how products are packed. The biggest problem is the use of plastic packaging, the ratio of package size to product dimensions and the use of too many fillers. Research by scientists from the MIT Real Estate Innovation Lab shows that the biggest “polluter” in e-commerce is  the not delivery but packaging – it generates 45 percent of all e-commerce greenhouse gas emissions.

Ecological packaging should be used in every company that wants to build its image as an environmentally friendly company.

According to the “Responsible E-commerce” report, in 2022 28% of respondents declared that they would be willing to pay more for a product if it was delivered in ecological packaging. The maximum amount they  are prepared to spend on eco-packaging is PLN 5 (€ 1.13).

How to increase the environmental efficiency of packaging?

There are a number of possibilities that will make your business greener: 

• Eliminate or reduce the use of non-biodegradable materials such as plastics or foams.

As many as 51% of Poles believe that the most important step that the packaging industry should take is the production of reusable, recyclable or biodegradable packaging. 47% of respondents were in favour of replacing plastic packaging with packaging made of other environmentally friendly materials.

• Use of responsibly produced packaging, which is produced using as few natural resources as possible.

Companies offering packaging made of plant material, compostable at home and industrially, that are  free of plastic, are  more and more boldly entering the market. These may not be low-budget solutions, but with the development of eco-awareness, more and more customers are ready to pay extra for ecological packaging.

• Choose the right package size.

43% of online shoppers find packaging, that is too large in relation to the content, very disturbing and a disincentive to purchase, while for 39% it is not a crucial factor, but a little disturbing. Only 2.5% of  purchasers pay no attention to this issue.

• Inform customers about a choice of sustainable packaging or its return and recycling.

Companies that care about the environment offer their customers the possibility of shipping goods in a reusable carboard box (e.g. the  return of a folded cardboard box to a parcel locker, which is reused after disinfection) or in a returnable carton (a special design, which also uses tape  which does not damage the package when removed, with additional adhesive tape attached, for re-closing).

Delivery

In addition to packaging, the delivery of goods is another area of ecological e-commerce, where consumers are ready to cooperate with the sellers. Almost every fourth Pole would agree to wait longer for their order if it reduced the carbon footprint. More and more online buyers  are now choosing delivery to a parcel locker. This is the most ecological solution, as the goods are collected, when the purchaser is “passing by”, without generating an additional carbon footprint.

How to optimise delivery ecologically?

1. Give the customer the option of personal collection.
2. Enable order consolidation and set a minimum price for free shipping.
3. Establish cooperation with logistics and transport companies that engage in activities that reduce the harmful impact on the environment.
4. Provide customers with the opportunity to choose between courier and delivery to a parcel locker or a dedicated collection point.

Returns

As many as 39% of consumers are aware of the fact that returns in e-commerce have a negative impact on the environment. And we send a lot back, as every year we buy more and more online. More than half of all customers have returned goods at least once. Every second respondent in the 14 to 29 years age group admits that they orders goods with the intention of sending them back. The largest scale of returns obviously affects the fashion industry.

In France, a landmark decision was the introduction of an anti-waste law, prohibiting companies from destroying unsold or returned goods. Such solutions were practiced by luxury fashion houses, which, for fear of damaging their image, did not decide to re-place the returned goods to the shelves.

What can be done to make returns more ecological?

1. Develop a sensible return policy that makes it clear that you support responsible and sustainable shopping – nearly 70% of online shoppers  claim that they  familiarize themselves with the companies returns policy before they even start shopping.
2. Educate customers about the consequences of unlimited returns – make shoppers aware that unlimited returns generate a carbon footprint. 56% of Polish Internet users admit that they have returned goods bought online, of which 47% have done this  once or a few time times, while 9% – many times. On average, every Pole emits about 8 tons of CO2 per year, which means that there is still a lot to be done.
3. Reduce the price of  non-refundable products or give the customer a choice: the possibility of returning a product or not accepting a return in exchange for a discount. In some industries (such as fashion) it will be difficult for the customer to give up the possibility of making returns, but there are a number of sectors where a discount in exchange for the lack of  the possibility of returning goods will be a tempting offer.
4. Take care in preparing detailed and comprehensive product descriptions and good photos. The most common reasons given for returns are, the wrong choice of size and the lack of a detailed description of the product, as a result of which the customer receives a product that has little resemblance to the photo.

Digital documentation

An ecological e-shop does not use paper for keeping its records. All invoices, proof of purchase, return forms are sent in electronic form.

Ecology as a benefit for e-business

100% of the e-companies surveyed indicated that they benefit from doing business responsibly. Most often these benefits are to do with image, this was the answer indicated in the first place by 90% of companies. In second place were strategic and development benefits for the brand, followed by economic benefits.

Impact of legislation on e-commerce

In the European Union, 26 million tonnes of plastic waste are generated annually. Since 2021, the European Commission’s directive on banning single-use plastic has been in force. By 2030, all products made of such plastic are to be recycled. There is no doubt that such legislation will also affect the development of e-commerce. And for businesses in this segment, being eco can be a determining factor of survival and achieving a competitive advantage.

Sources:

• Polacy na e-zakupach 2021 – Santander Consumer Bank
• Green Generation 2021 – Mobile Institute
• E-commerce w Polsce 2022 – Gemius
• Odpowiedzialny e-commerce 2022 – Izba Gospodarki Elektronicznej
• Społeczeństwo Informacyjne w Polsce 2022 – GUS
• Ekobarometr – SW Research
• Przesyłki i ich zabezpieczanie podczas transportu – Air Protect System, Politan