In Pursuit Of Sustainable Development, Sellers Can Start From These Aspects!

Especially for cross-border sellers, many products may need to travel across the ocean to be delivered to consumers. Consumers are becoming increasingly environmentally aware, and sellers should also pay more attention to how to offset the carbon generated by online delivery.

James Chin Moody, CEO of carbon-neutral shipping platform Sendle, said: “The e-commerce industry is moving in the right direction when it comes to sustainability, but the pace of change is not coming fast enough. Today, transportation activity accounts for approximately 50% of global greenhouse gas emissions. 17% of volume. The World Economic Forum estimates that the number of e-commerce delivery vehicles driving around cities could increase by 36% by 2030, leading to more carbon emissions entering the environment.”

Packaging is a key area for sellers to reduce the environmental impact of deliveries. In order to protect items that move around multiple parties, brands often overuse packaging materials, which not only wastes materials but also results in reduced shipping efficiency.

For this situation, sellers can utilize recyclable or biodegradable materials so that consumers can reuse the packaging after opening the product. Alternatively, sellers can use recycled textiles from their own supply chains, thus minimizing their impact on the source.

Putting aside the issue of packaging, sellers should also pay attention to the way the product is delivered. Today's consumers expect fast delivery, but these shipping services are relatively expensive and have a greater environmental impact. For example, air transport has a much higher carbon footprint than ground delivery.

Strategic inventory planning is essential to streamline the fulfillment process and make it more environmentally friendly. By storing products closer to consumers, the final shipping trip can be shortened. By consolidating multiple local shipments into one, sellers can achieve better overall assortment and reduce reliance on packaging.

Krish Iyer, head of industry relations and strategic partnerships at shipping platform ShipStation, also said: “Brands should ask their suppliers not only about packaging, but also their partners’ overall commitment to sustainability efforts.”

In summary, whether it is to protect the environment or respond to consumer demands, sustainable development is a direction that sellers must seriously consider and put into practice.