Post by account_disabled on Mar 6, 2024 2:21:38 GMT -5
Online shopping has increased in popularity since the arrival of the pandemic, especially because it has become the main platform for companies to offer their products and services. It is even estimated that in the United States alone it increased by close to 40%.
And as consumers depend more on electronic commerce and become accustomed to this type of distribution also known as E-commerce, companies will have to adapt to meet purchasing demand in a more sustainable way, and even more so because people's preference by consuming socially responsible brands and products, it is also growing...
Ecommerce: alternative to COVID-19
The arrival of COVID-19 in the world caused thousands of companies and businesses to close. This motivated the emergence of initiatives and measures that brought their products and services closer to people in a cautious way.
However, a survey showed that consumers are Chile Mobile Number List not only paying attention to health measures, but also to those relating to the environmental impact generated by their order.
For this reason, those companies with an E-commerce platform cannot leave out sustainability in any step. Let us remember that sustainability refers to the ability to meet the needs of current generations without compromising the resources and opportunities of future generations.
So any company that has an online sales or E-commerce service must take the following into account:
1. Mobility
E-commerce is based on a complex logistics and delivery network. This means that great mobility is required to take these packages to their destination, however this generates emissions.
The World Economic Forum notes that last-mile delivery vehicles could emit an additional 6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2030, an estimate made before recent events that sparked growth in e-commerce deliveries.
If consumers continue to turn to e-commerce for retail and grocery delivery after the worst of the pandemic, we may see an increase in last-mile shipping emissions from current projections.
According to the World Economic Forum, if this happens, it will become even more critical for retailers to choose a delivery company with an integrated network that offers more sustainable last-mile delivery solutions.
As in the case of UPS, which allows consumers to direct their packages to UPS Access Point locations (such as The UPS Store, CVS Pharmacy, Michaels or Advance Auto Parts) where consolidated deliveries are made to multiple consumers, avoiding multiple delivery attempts to a single residence.
2. Waste
Most of the packages that are shipped come with various single-use plastic fillings and protections that end up in landfills and others in the ocean, putting the health of thousands of marine species and even our own at risk.
This percentage of waste has been increasing with the ease of returns that is being achieved with E-commerce. In fact, it is estimated that on average, e-commerce can have three times the return rate of physical retail sales.
Although preliminary data from Optoro 's platform indicates a decrease in the rate of return when compared between mid-March and February of this year. This means that consumers may be less likely to return unwanted products at this time, which also creates waste as an unsought item.
As stores and warehouses begin to reopen amid the lifting of social distancing requirements, many retailers could see an increase in returns and exchanges of items that consumers purchased in quarantine.
In addition to all the returns that consumers expect to send to retailers, there are also piles of inventory piling up in warehouses and stores, much of which is seasonal and will be increasingly difficult to move in the next month or two, so it's important that Stores improve their customer service and the products they use to wrap and protect packages.
3. Reduce the impact
One of the most important steps for retail should be to consider how we can minimize the impacts of e-commerce, especially as retailers seek growth in the face of this pandemic.
Buying and selling open, or non-new, inventory may be a necessary strategy in the coming months for retailers looking to find and at the same time keep products out of landfills.
For their part, consumers are also on the hunt for better deals in the coming months as we see the full extent of the economic impacts of COVID-19.
This change in the way we sell online will also reduce out-of-stock items, making inventory available when it is most relevant and reducing the chances of it ending up in landfill.
Retailers can engage a new consumer base while ensuring their unsold products find a second home by offering opened or refurbished products.
As well as extending the life of products and reducing the number of new products manufactured will contribute to a more sustainable retail industry.
More efficient logistics
From smart routing to fleet electrification, there are many ways shipping can be more sustainable and save money in the long run.
At UPS, technology ensures drivers take the most optimized delivery routes. A reduction of just one mile per driver per day for one year can save the company up to $50 million. That's an example of a win for customers, the planet and UPS.
UPS.
Another example is the consortium of leading consumer products companies has partnered with UPS and TerraCycle on Loop , a sustainable packaging system that eliminates reliance on single-use packaging.
According to a recent Fast Company article , the platform is expanding across the United States after a huge surge in interest during the pandemic, and aims to extend the life of products and reduce the number of new products.
Carbon neutral shipping is another alternative to offset the carbon footprint of e-commerce shipping. Such as UPS's carbon neutral programs that allow retailers to support projects that purchase and retire carbon offsets equal to the amount of carbon emitted during shipping.
The limit is the sky…
The advantage is that there are a large number of alternatives to make e-commerce more sustainable and thereby optimize logistics. Companies like UPS are leading by example.
Additionally, as we continue to adapt to this changing world, retail leaders will be challenged to evaluate how best to deal with e-commerce shipments, excess goods, and returns as efficiently as possible.
And as consumers depend more on electronic commerce and become accustomed to this type of distribution also known as E-commerce, companies will have to adapt to meet purchasing demand in a more sustainable way, and even more so because people's preference by consuming socially responsible brands and products, it is also growing...
Ecommerce: alternative to COVID-19
The arrival of COVID-19 in the world caused thousands of companies and businesses to close. This motivated the emergence of initiatives and measures that brought their products and services closer to people in a cautious way.
However, a survey showed that consumers are Chile Mobile Number List not only paying attention to health measures, but also to those relating to the environmental impact generated by their order.
For this reason, those companies with an E-commerce platform cannot leave out sustainability in any step. Let us remember that sustainability refers to the ability to meet the needs of current generations without compromising the resources and opportunities of future generations.
So any company that has an online sales or E-commerce service must take the following into account:
1. Mobility
E-commerce is based on a complex logistics and delivery network. This means that great mobility is required to take these packages to their destination, however this generates emissions.
The World Economic Forum notes that last-mile delivery vehicles could emit an additional 6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2030, an estimate made before recent events that sparked growth in e-commerce deliveries.
If consumers continue to turn to e-commerce for retail and grocery delivery after the worst of the pandemic, we may see an increase in last-mile shipping emissions from current projections.
According to the World Economic Forum, if this happens, it will become even more critical for retailers to choose a delivery company with an integrated network that offers more sustainable last-mile delivery solutions.
As in the case of UPS, which allows consumers to direct their packages to UPS Access Point locations (such as The UPS Store, CVS Pharmacy, Michaels or Advance Auto Parts) where consolidated deliveries are made to multiple consumers, avoiding multiple delivery attempts to a single residence.
2. Waste
Most of the packages that are shipped come with various single-use plastic fillings and protections that end up in landfills and others in the ocean, putting the health of thousands of marine species and even our own at risk.
This percentage of waste has been increasing with the ease of returns that is being achieved with E-commerce. In fact, it is estimated that on average, e-commerce can have three times the return rate of physical retail sales.
Although preliminary data from Optoro 's platform indicates a decrease in the rate of return when compared between mid-March and February of this year. This means that consumers may be less likely to return unwanted products at this time, which also creates waste as an unsought item.
As stores and warehouses begin to reopen amid the lifting of social distancing requirements, many retailers could see an increase in returns and exchanges of items that consumers purchased in quarantine.
In addition to all the returns that consumers expect to send to retailers, there are also piles of inventory piling up in warehouses and stores, much of which is seasonal and will be increasingly difficult to move in the next month or two, so it's important that Stores improve their customer service and the products they use to wrap and protect packages.
3. Reduce the impact
One of the most important steps for retail should be to consider how we can minimize the impacts of e-commerce, especially as retailers seek growth in the face of this pandemic.
Buying and selling open, or non-new, inventory may be a necessary strategy in the coming months for retailers looking to find and at the same time keep products out of landfills.
For their part, consumers are also on the hunt for better deals in the coming months as we see the full extent of the economic impacts of COVID-19.
This change in the way we sell online will also reduce out-of-stock items, making inventory available when it is most relevant and reducing the chances of it ending up in landfill.
Retailers can engage a new consumer base while ensuring their unsold products find a second home by offering opened or refurbished products.
As well as extending the life of products and reducing the number of new products manufactured will contribute to a more sustainable retail industry.
More efficient logistics
From smart routing to fleet electrification, there are many ways shipping can be more sustainable and save money in the long run.
At UPS, technology ensures drivers take the most optimized delivery routes. A reduction of just one mile per driver per day for one year can save the company up to $50 million. That's an example of a win for customers, the planet and UPS.
UPS.
Another example is the consortium of leading consumer products companies has partnered with UPS and TerraCycle on Loop , a sustainable packaging system that eliminates reliance on single-use packaging.
According to a recent Fast Company article , the platform is expanding across the United States after a huge surge in interest during the pandemic, and aims to extend the life of products and reduce the number of new products.
Carbon neutral shipping is another alternative to offset the carbon footprint of e-commerce shipping. Such as UPS's carbon neutral programs that allow retailers to support projects that purchase and retire carbon offsets equal to the amount of carbon emitted during shipping.
The limit is the sky…
The advantage is that there are a large number of alternatives to make e-commerce more sustainable and thereby optimize logistics. Companies like UPS are leading by example.
Additionally, as we continue to adapt to this changing world, retail leaders will be challenged to evaluate how best to deal with e-commerce shipments, excess goods, and returns as efficiently as possible.