In a survey conducted by Numerator, it was revealed that almost three in 10 Canadians are shopping for goods online that they would normally buy in-store. Nielsen reported that 81% of consumers believe companies should make more of an investment into environmentally conscious materials.
This issue has become even more apparent during the global pandemic. According to Rewind’s eBook, Elevating Your Ecommerce Business During the Global Pandemic, there has been a boom in online shopping during the months of March and April. Revenue increased over 65% in those two months alone. The impact of COVID-19 on shipping volumes, means ecommerce may be forced to find more sustainable shipping methods.
Sustainable Packaging Options
100% recycled poly mailers are both an economical and more sustainable packaging option. When purchased in bulk, poly mailers can cost as low as $0.11 USD per unit. Smaller and easy to pack quickly, products can be placed in the smallest mailer to reduce unused space and excess packaging materials.
If the product requires a cardboard box, there is the option to purchase used shipping boxes. Avoid plastic, Styrofoam, and packing peanuts. Instead, opt for kraft and crinkle paper to fill the extra space in the box. Kraft paper is purchased in large rolls. Use as much paper as it takes to stop the product from moving in the box. The consumer can then recycle the paper afterwards. Crinkle paper is shredded and folded pieces of paper that can be used to replace packing peanuts.
Beyond environmentally friendly packaging, you need to prepare for increased consumer demand. Around 75% of consumers have reported searching for a product online only to find that it is out-of-stock. A way to potentially avoid this is to use digital
inventories and proper resource planning and logistics execution. ShipStation, for example, is a web-based solution that helps ecommerce retailers import, organize, process, and ship their orders quickly and easily.
As reported by ShipStation, 80% of consumers say that the shipping experience is what stands out the most in their online shopping experience. With the global pandemic, 65% of consumers believe that delivery to the home is the safest option. For more information on how to improve your shipping logistics and retain customers, download the eBook, Elevating Your Ecommerce Business During the Global Pandemic.
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