Everything You Need to Know about Green Shipping

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What is sustainable shipping?

Sustainable shipping involves implementing sustainable practices to every part of the shipping process, from the packaging materials all the way to how returns are managed. The main aim is to reduce the amount of CO2 emissions released into the environment without having an adverse effect on quality, service, profits, or health and safety of stakeholders.

67% check a brand’s sustainability before purchasing

Why are sustainable shipping solutions important?

Sustainable shipping solutions have so many advantages for your business, but the benefits don’t stop there! By adopting green delivery methods, you are satisfying the needs of the ever-growing eco-conscious consumer market, contributing to help save the planet, and encouraging other businesses to join the sustainable movement.

So, what are some of the main benefits of eco-friendly shipping for your business?

  • Reduce energy consumption and cut back on excessive resource usage
  • Increase business efficiency
  • Minimise waste of both resources and business operation time
  • Expand profit margins
  • Attract new eco-conscious consumers and build a loyal customer base
  • Ensures consistent high-quality products that meet all standards and requirements related to social responsibility and sustainability target

Find out more about GFS Sustainable Shipping Services

What are the advantages for eco-friendly customers?

  • With 43% of UK consumers experiencing guilt about environmental impact when ordering online, sustainable shipping methods will help to alleviate this feeling
  • Saves time and effort when shopping online as customers won’t have to keep searching different websites until they find a sustainable brand
  • Feel connected to a brand that shares the same values as them and creates a sense of belonging to a community
  • Supporting a brand that is positively impacting the environment and therefore indirectly contributing to this

What positive impact is this all having on the planet?

  • Combats carbon emissions tied to eCommerce delivery estimated to rise 32% by 2030

  • Reduces deforestation as less trees will be needed for packaging purposes. A study by Canopy found that 3 billion trees are pulped every year to produce 241 million tons of shipping cartons.

  • Encourages the use of sustainable packaging materials, helping increase the percentage of recycled plastic packaging from the current usage of merely 14%

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How can you offer green shipping?

  • Sustainable eCommerce packaging: Ensuring you are using packaging materials that can be repurposed, are biodegradable, or reusable. This includes not only an eco-friendly shipping box, but eco-friendly shipping tape and biodegradable bubble wrap
  • Offset your emissions: We know that sometimes it is hard to avoid releasing carbon into the environment, but you can invest in carbon offsetting projects making your shipping carbon neutral.
  • To avoid unnecessary transport, businesses can work to send items in bulk by working with a multi-carrier partner
  • Ensure your packaging fits the item inside
  • Set up a good in-house recycling process and ask your suppliers to do the same

What sustainable delivery services are available with GFS?

GFS’ partnership with a large network of multi carriers means you have access to the widest range of green delivery options:

  • Carbon Neutral Service on Single Shipment
  • Choose Electric Van Delivery

  • Parcel Shop Drop Off

  • Click and Collect Delivery
  • Increased Capacity Trailers

Contact us now to discuss sustainable shipping for your business

Sources

https://canopyplanet.org/campaigns/pack4good/
https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/the-new-plastics-economy-catalysing-action/