Many ecommerce businesses are now switching to a new model called drop shipping. Not only will it help you save, but it will also make you more money in the long run. But what are its drawbacks? Can drop shipping damage our environment in the long run?
Being a sustainable business in this day and age isn’t about managing your money and time well. It also means having a company with a positive impact on the environment.
So, what is the importance of building a sustainable business, and how can you become a sustainable drop shipper?
Is Dropshipping Eco-friendly
No, not really (but in this post, we’ll give you tips on how to become green-friendly).
When doing dropshipping, products have to be transported by air or sea to customers. Moreover, it will likely have to pass through different middle persons, which adds further transport. So if you are not careful, you can be causing harm to mother earth without knowing it.
Also, you have to factor in the product’s journey as well. For instance, selling a bamboo toothbrush in the US that shipped from China is counterintuitive. Is drop shipping right for your business?
In this post, you will learn more about dropshipping and we’ve come up with some tips on how to be a more eco-conscious dropshipper:
1. Focus on your packaging
Make sure you use packaging only when necessary, and avoid using cardboard, paper, or plastic in the contents of your box simply for aesthetics.
Recycled packaging is one of the best eco-friendly practices that you apply. It would be best if you also considered adding recycling instructions that are easy to understand on the packaging.
2. Promote and sell products that enable sustainability
Another way to do a sustainable dropshipping business is simply by selling and promoting products that decrease their environmental impact on the planet.
For example, in the US, the sustainable product market will reach $150 billion in 2021. This proves that creating a profitable, eco-friendly business is possible. Getting people to purchase sustainable products is an easy sell. That’s because a lot of them are more willing to pay more for a product that’s less harmful to the environment.
Sustainable products can help your customers save money in the long run because most of them are reusable or partially reusable. So, make this one of your unique selling points as much as possible.
3. Find an eco-friendly dropshipping supplier
You should also find a sustainable drop shipper. Work with eco-friendly companies that show how committed they are to the environment.
In the same way, you may also source a local supplier. There’s no point in working with a green supplier if the product needs to be shipped halfway around the world because this can be equally harmful to the environment.
4. Don’t make customers post returns
Rather than asking your customers to post their returns, you can decrease their air miles with a policy asking them to take pictures or videos of the product showing why they wanted to return the items they bought. After all, why do they want to return the product in the first place?
As soon as you process the returns, you can encourage customers to gift, recycle, or donate the item they want to return. This, of course, depends on their condition.
Selling a high-quality product also decreases the likelihood of products being returned to be replaced. Usually, poor-quality items will need replacing a lot more frequently. Over time, this can also cost you, as a seller, more money in the long run for these returns.
To avoid this, get a couple of product samples and test their quality. It helps that you’re also clear with your product descriptions and images. This avoids customer disappointment and decreases the likelihood of the product being returned.
5. Reduce the amount of paper you use
As we’ve mentioned, make sure you cut down on the amount of paper used in your store and find ways to recycle. This might include getting rid of the need for printing promotional materials and invoices shipped along with your products.
Alternatively, you can easily send it over to your customers instead.
6. Give back to the environment
This is a great concept, and many companies are getting on board with this idea. In many cases, running a business on a carbon-neutral basis isn’t always possible.
That’s why many companies choose to contribute to environmental regeneration projects to lessen the impact on the environment somehow. You can also do this by opting for a tree planting project or donating to an environmentally friendly cause.
7. Sell fairtrade products
Usually, certified fair trade products encourage production methods that are more environmentally friendly. It also helps safeguard the working conditions and reduce poverty.
In the same way, fair trade also gives back to the local economy where these products are produced.
One requirement of fairtrade products is that they shouldn’t contain genetically engineered ingredients. Additionally, it should be produced with minimal amounts of fertilizers and pesticides and should be adapting environmentally friendly waste management.
Wrapping It Up
Eco-friendly dropshipping doesn’t have to be costly. It can help you save in the long run. Moreover, people these days have become eco-conscious. Most will pay more if it is less harmful to the environment.
So, it’s essential to take these tips in mind if you want to have a more sustainable ecommerce store. You should also tell your customers about it and urge them to do the same.
Not only is it a great way to engage your customer base and build rapport, but you’re making a positive impact on our environment in the long run.