To help new eCommerce businesses reduce their carbon footprint and maximise their sustainability,
James Mellan-Matulewicz, Creative Director and Designer at sustainable luxury
wallpaper retailer, Bobbi Beck, has shared the five things that you should be aware of when
starting up your eco-friendly brand.
1. Renewable practices
“There are plenty of ways that businesses can improve their sustainability through simple yet
effective actions. Running your office space off of renewable energy, planting a tree for every
product that you sell, or collaborating with eco-friendly organisations on a donation basis are
just some of the many options to extend your commitment to sustainability beyond the products
that you sell. Even the smallest action can make all the difference.
2. Carbon tracking
“Monitoring your carbon footprint is an important part of being an eco-friendly eCommerce
business, yet is often difficult to navigate. Whilst tools to aid companies in this area can be
lacking, we have found CBN Expert to be an invaluable resource. This allows us to input key
elements of our business, whether it be the materials we use, the amount of waste that we
produce, or the ways in which our staff travel to and from work, and uses this information to
calculate our carbon footprint (Source: CBN Expert).”
“Tracking your carbon output is essential to understanding just how sustainable your business
practices really are and provides guidelines on how you can improve your approach to
sustainability going forward.”
3. Stock and storage
“Warehouses housing large amounts of stock may be a useful storage option, but they also tend
to use up lots of energy and release large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere, and so are bad
for the environment. To tackle this dilemma, businesses should consider establishing a made-
to-order model wherever possible. This means that products are only made when a customer
orders them, reducing the necessity for large amounts of stock and decreasing your carbon
footprint by allowing for smaller workspaces. What’s more, by producing items only to meet a
specific demand, businesses can avoid generating waste from items that don’t meet order
expectations and ultimately get discarded.”
4. Greener delivery
“16% of greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to the transport and logistics industry
(Source: DHL), which means that how you deliver products to your customers has a greater
impact on the planet than you’d expect. Next-day delivery may be a hugely popular choice for
consumers looking to receive their items as quickly and efficiently as possible, but the large
number of delivery vehicles required to meet this demand can be detrimental to the
environment. Many courier companies are now trying to combat this by employing greener
transportation methods.”
“At Bobbi Beck, we have partnered with DHL on their GoGreen initiative, which aims to reduce
logistic-related greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050 (Source: DHL). Whether it’s the
introduction of electric vans, an increase in courier bicycles, or a more fuel-efficient air fleet
(Source: DHL), choosing a courier that is visibly working towards eco-friendly practices is a
great way to ensure that this sustainable mindset continues out on the road.”
5. Carbon Neutral vs. Net Zero
“Terms like ‘Carbon Neutral’ and ‘Net Zero’ are often used interchangeably when it comes to
discussions around sustainability, but whilst it is easy to conflate the two, it’s important to
understand their differences. Carbon Neutrality is when the carbon generated is offset through a
circular product lifecycle or a Gold Standard carbon offsetting scheme. However, the calculation
for this only considers carbon generated from your business.”
“Comparatively, for a company to be deemed as ‘Net Zero’, everyone in the supply chain needs
to be ‘Carbon Neutral’. This includes any raw materials providers and logistics companies, such
as DHL.”
To learn more about how Bobbi Beck is committed to being a certified sustainable
business, visit their website here and browse their range of eco-friendly wallpapers here.
Bonus tip: EfficiencyWorking efficiently can have a major bearing on sustainability, as it saves businesses time and money and encourages them to make the most of resources, materials and technology. Boosting efficiency with sustainability in mind may involve investing in green vehicles or tech, streamlining operations and systems and providing opportunities for remote and flexible working. Taking advantage of efficient services can also help companies to speed up processes and reduce waste. From working with a reputable provider of fast, effective employee assessments such as a safety critical medical to accelerate recruitment or a return to work to teaming up with businesses that deliver speedy, green logistics and shipping services, there is scope to reduce emissions, save time and foster positive working environments that actively champion sustainability.
