The world has changed. Start packaging for the future.

As consumer awareness of ecommerce’s environmental impact grows, sustainability is taking a leading role in e-tailers’ strategies. The pandemic has caused an unprecedented increase in online sales, and more consumers than ever are voting with their wallets for brands whose principles align with theirs.

According to IBM’s Meet the 2020 Consumers Driving Change report, nearly 60% of consumers are willing to change their shopping habits to reduce environmental impact. Almost 80% indicated that sustainability is important to them, and for those who say it is “very/extremely important,” over 70% would pay a 35% premium for brands that are sustainable and environmentally responsible.

There’s a growing body of evidence that shows sustainability drives sales. The NYU Stern School of Business found that sustainability-marketed products grew 7.1 times faster than conventionally-marketed products between 2015 and 2019. In over 90% of individual product categories, sustainability-marketed products outpaced the growth of their categories.

Packaging is a key introduction to a consumer’s experience of a brand, and is one of the key areas where e-tailers can develop their sustainability credentials. E-tailers are rethinking packaging by switching to recyclable, plant-based and biodegradable materials, or simply by cutting back on the amount used.

Third-party logistics providers (3PLs) around the world are looking at ways they can help their e-tailers reduce their carbon footprint. This can be done through the adoption of sustainable packaging techniques, tapes, stacking methods, and recyclable solutions. The Sustainable Packaging Coalition is a unique resource supporting e-tailers by detailing different types of sustainable packaging and how best to implement it into their offering.

It’s not always necessary to replace materials in order to become more sustainable. It’s also possible to simply use less. Raylo is a phone subscription company that redesigned its packaging, reducing weight by 20% and cutting costs by 11%. The new Raylo box, designed by Packhelp, was made from two layers of cardboard instead of three, and the new design was more sustainable thanks to a 25% reduction in glue.

By reducing the amount of packaging used to ship orders, e-tailers are improving shipping density and thus cutting transportation costs.

Borderless 360 supports many brands that are focusing on ways they can be more sustainable. An example of this is Oh Crap, an Australian based company on a mission to reduce the 4% of landfill that is dog poop. Oh Crap’s dog poop bags are made of cornstarch, an eco-friendly alternative to plastic. The bags break down completely in landfill within 3 months or can be composted at home. The packaging for their product is also recyclable, ensuring they are making an ongoing difference to the environment.

You too can save money, grow your business, and align with consumers’ values by rethinking your packaging. Borderless 360 prides itself on helping e-tailers make smart packaging choices, and implementing them throughout a global logistics network.

Want to know more? Our team is happy to help. Get in touch with us today sales@borderless360.com