In recent times, there has been a much required effort to combat the global warming impacts amidst rising concern about the future of planet Earth.
E-commerce is helping the retail business to evolve in such a manner that is comfortable and cost-effective. It was predicted by Invest India’s survey that e-commerce sector is set to touch $325 billion in this country by 2030. According to Invest India, “India boasts the world's second-largest internet user base with a whopping 881 million users. This positions India to become the third-largest online retail market by 2030, fueled by a rapidly expanding internet user base and a flourishing digital economy.”
Amidst remarkable growth scenario, both manufacturers and consumers are focusing on eco-friendly options to sustain with Earth's finite resources. In this article, we will discuss about eco-friendly approaches in e-commerce to reduce carbon footprints.
Packaging waste is one of the dark secrets in e-commerce. Large packages waste space and also demands more material to protect items. A recent survey found that ecommerce generates approximately 4.8 times more packaging waste than in-store purchases. It is further predicted that packaging waste in the e-commerce will reach 4.5 billion pounds by 2025. Such a huge waste needs to be reduced immediately. For that awareness and strict policy are required. Also, focusing on eco-friendly materials including glassine, cellulose, kraft paper, and bio-based paper for packaging is a must nowadays.
Almost 1 out of 3 items bought online are sent back to retailers. Shocking, right? This return option is creating a lot of environmental impact. Let's understand how. It increases commuting cost, fuel emission as well as packaging loss. All these factors harm the environment largely. As per survey report, return rate is increasing every year globally.
There is no alternative to recycling considering recent environmental scenario. Be it plastic or e-waste, any sort of waste generated through e-commerce can be recycled through strict action plan and awareness. Every brand should promote and provide recycling guidelines with the product. It will also save money. According to On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) survey: “42% of people who are unsure about a product’s recyclability will take a guess,” as recycling is still very much confusing to many customers.
We tend to throw away or keep in store any unused yet good item. What if customer get a chance to resell it? That would be great right? Every brand should empower their customers to resell any unused item. Sometimes, old products or dresses get a new look via innovative ways. By availing circular economy concept, we can promote eco-friendly and sustainable practices.
Conventional vehicles contribute a lot behind global warming. As per recent reports, e-commerce transportation contributes around 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is going to reach 17% by 2050. Thus, we need to find a sustainable substitute. This can be achieved by embracing new technologies like electric vehicles (EV). Compared to traditional diesel-based vehicles, EVs release 43% less emmision.
According to a Nielsen survey: “73% of global consumers say they would definitely change their consumption habits to reduce environmental impact.”
We know scientists are searching for alternatives of planet Earth. However, it will not provide any immediate result. We have one planet to live right now. By practicing those methods, we can promote sustainable development.
