There’s no denying that shopping—both in stores and online—has major impacts on the environment. While carbon emissions from online shopping are 36% lower than traditional brick-and-mortar shopping, there’s still a lot of room for improvement.
But the good news is that making your supply chain isn’t just good for the earth, it can also be good for business. Customers are actively considering sustainability as a factor when buying, and value-driven customers are more enthusiastic about sustainable businesses. Using sustainable packaging, efficient shipping, and more can positively impact your brand image and bottom line.
Here are several steps your brand can take to embrace sustainability in your own supply chain in 2022 and beyond.
Green Your Packaging
More than four in five consumers believe that brands excessively use non-sustainable packaging for their products, and the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that plastic and other packaging waste makes up about 30% of annual waste in the United States.
In addition to thinking about the impacts, more than two in three consumers consider it essential that the products they buy are in recyclable or eco-friendly packaging.
That’s why it’s more important than ever to start using more sustainable packaging. Flowspace partners with a company called Noissue, which provides brands and businesses of all sizes access to custom, sustainable packaging.
Move Your Product Closer to the Customer
Transportation and delivery takes a toll on the environment: The further a product has to travel to a consumer, the more pollution is created. A 2021 MIT study found that built-out logistics networks can reduce transportation-related emissions by 50%.
Flowspace’s Network Optimization model does just this. By identifying the optimal fulfillment centers closest to a brand’s consumers, the company can reduce transit times and the emissions created by long-distance single shipments. Warehouses can also receive freight shipments, which further reduces the impact from transportation.
Increase Efficiency at Every Step
Inefficiencies at every level of the supply chain can contribute to a negative impact. Streamlining warehouse operations and reducing duplicated work can contribute to energy cost savings and reduce carbon emissions.
Flowspace software offers modern brands a command center, centralizing Network Optimization, order management, inventory planning, and more, all in one place.
Flowspace is committed to making the supply chain more sustainable and is proud to have been recognized in the 2021 Business Intelligence Group Sustainability Awards program. Flowspace’s Network Optimization was named Sustainability Service of the Year for its ability to reduce carbon emissions in the supply chain.
Find out how Flowspace can set up sustainable fulfillment services for your brand. Get in touch today.
Written By:
Allison Champion
Allison Champion leads marketing communication at Flowspace, where she works to develop content that addresses the unique challenges facing modern brands in omnichannel eCommerce. She has more than a decade of experience in content development and marketing.
