What does your fulfillment have to do with a fruit box?
Ding Dong! The doorbell rings, and I know my fruit box from the farmer has arrived. Of course, the fruit (as the name suggests) is in a box – more specifically, in a returnable box. This will be picked up during the next delivery and refilled. The keyword here: sustainable shipping. What is completely normal for the fruit box is still uncharted territory for online retail. Why is that? There are plenty of alternatives to the old single-use cardboard box and plastic filling material available now.
To make you signposts in the industry (and thereby provide you with a Unique Selling Point), we have examined five ways in more detail on how you can make your fulfillment more sustainable.
Method 1: The Returnable Box/Packaging
As early as 2009, Memo developed its own returnable shipping system, the memo Box. Since then, customers have been able to choose this sustainable shipping option during the ordering process. According to company information, 23% of customers used the memo Box. In 2017, the company was even awarded the Sustainability Prize in Logistics by the Federal Association of Logistics (BVL) in Austria and Germany.
The system is quite simple: the customer chooses the memo Box, and Memo decides which size is selected. After receiving the goods, the customer has 14 days to return the box to the company free of charge. If no return occurs, Memo charges the customer for the box, and they can then keep it. The sturdy alternative to cardboard can withstand a total of 500 cycles.
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel to enable sustainable shipping. For smaller, non-fragile goods, such as clothing, the Finnish startup RePack has developed a foldable shipping bag. This smart packaging can first transport goods and later be folded down to the size of an envelope and sent back to RePack worldwide for free. Through its innovative system, CO2 emissions are reduced by around 80%, according to the company’s promise.
In addition to sustainable shipping, RePack offers a large network of retailers. Since each return is rewarded with a shopping voucher that can be redeemed at any RePack partner, customer loyalty automatically increases. Naturally, each bag is cleaned after use. This is done in workshops for people with disabilities. Thus, RePack embodies not only an ecological but also a social concept.
Method 2: Climate-Neutral Shipping
Admittedly, the farmer certainly has a shorter distance to my home than you as an Amazon seller do to most of your customers. However, that doesn’t mean you have to lag far behind him when it comes to sustainable shipping.
Major shipping providers like DHL and DPD offer climate-neutral shipping. They measure CO2 emissions and offset them through investments in climate projects.
With DHL, all packages within Germany are shipped climate-neutral. Packages to EU countries can also be shipped climate-neutral for an additional fee of €0.20. Additionally, the shipping provider already uses electric vehicles in some cities to reduce CO2 emissions. DPD also offers free climate-neutral shipping in Germany and, for example, already uses cargo bikes in Nuremberg.
Method 3: Packaging Made from Recycled Materials
But what about the product packaging itself? If it cannot be completely eliminated, one can at least opt for sustainable alternatives to make fulfillment more environmentally friendly.
bio-lutions’ approach is quite simple yet brilliant. One person’s waste is another person’s raw material. The company uses bio-waste to create new compostable packaging without chemicals.
A similar approach is being pursued by Arekapak. They aim to create new packaging from fallen palm leaves. While the packaging is not yet being sold, it is definitely exciting to follow this idea further. The team is currently working on the prototype and the realization of the project.
Even those who prefer film packaging can find suitable options. For example, repaq offers plastic-free and compostable film packaging made from cellulose. However, there are many more innovations, from packaging for temperature-sensitive goods to alternative insulation materials.
Method 4: Filling Material Made from Recycled Materials
Which brings us to the next point: the filling material.
Does it always have to be Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap? Or how about using mushrooms instead? Ecovativedesign has introduced a new type of filling material that uses mycelium as a “glue.” Agricultural waste is cleaned and processed for this method. Then, mushrooms are added as a stabilizer. After just a few days, the filling material is ready for use. Mushroompackaging has even convinced the electronics giant Dell.
Those convinced by this approach can even order their own DIY kit and produce their materials themselves. The only catch: the long transport route from the USA. But Germany also has good alternatives to offer. Landpack near Munich offers several different filling materials. For example, they have an insulation made from straw as an alternative to Styrofoam. According to the manufacturer, it can keep goods below 4° for up to 65 hours.
The company also offers materials made from hemp and jute. These serve both for insulation and cushioning. Another alternative, who doesn’t know them? The good old packaging chips, but please biodegradable. They are usually made from starch and are at least as effective as Styrofoam packaging chips. However, they can be disposed of in the organic waste bin or your own compost pile, just like all the other options presented.
Method 5: Recycling Packaging Yourself
But who says you have to outsource processes or hire suppliers to ensure sustainable shipping? Surely you receive one or two returns as well. What do you do with the box? Throw it away?
Offer your customers the option to receive a reused cardboard box. Many cardboard boxes are still in perfect condition after their first use and are thrown in the trash. An intact box can definitely be reused. 87% of consumers even support the reuse of previously used boxes.
If you give your customers the choice of whether they prefer a brand new box or reducing unnecessary waste, surely some environmentally conscious customers will allow the box to be reused. However, with this method, you should only reuse boxes that are truly in perfect condition.
Additional Benefits
Those who focus on sustainable shipping and package their products in a way that minimizes waste or is compostable reach a growing target audience of environmentally conscious consumers. A study by Facit Research 2017 found that the sustainability of a product or seller plays a significant role in the purchasing decision for about two-thirds of respondents.
If that isn’t reason enough, let it be known: you can save money with reusable packaging! While the initial investments may be higher, since you can use your packaging multiple times, you won’t need to buy new packaging material for each individual shipment. Think of the memo Box, which can be used 500 times. This way, the purchase of reusable transport boxes will quickly pay for itself.
Eyes Open When Choosing Packaging
As appealing as the green, perfect world may sound, you should still question every product. Of course, it’s nice when shipping providers invest in climate projects, but wouldn’t it be even better to use emissions-free shipping whenever possible? Does a package really need to be driven 10 kilometers in a diesel transporter, or could a courier service with an e-bike suffice in this case?
If you decide on a new packaging or filling method, you will likely need to contact a supplier. At this stage, you should also inquire about the production of the alternative packaging and ensure that it is truly ecological. What good is packaging made from recycled material if it has to be shipped halfway around the globe to reach you? A critical look behind the green facade is definitely worthwhile!
PraxPack: Solution Search at the Federal Level
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research has also recognized that change is urgently needed. After all, over 50,000 tons of plastic packaging and over 750,000 tons of paper, cardboard, and carton packaging are generated each year just in online retail.
Therefore, projects like “praxPACK” are being supported, where the Ökopol Institute is searching for new solutions to reduce the mountains of packaging waste generated. They focus on ideas that benefit both the environment and the retailers. Only in this way can change occur. We have reason to hope that many more alternatives to single-use packaging and filling materials will soon come to market.
Conclusion: Sustainable Fulfillment is Becoming Increasingly Important
Those who focus on sustainable shipping and ecological packaging have a clear USP and reach an increasingly larger target audience. There are already some sustainable alternatives to single-use packaging and filling materials available today. However, the supply is expected to grow even further. Sustainability is definitely a trend that you should follow and implement in your business as much as possible.
Nevertheless, you should take the time to explore the individual options and evaluate them on a case-by-case basis. Does it fit your business? Does it really make sense? Those who take this time and make conscious decisions can compete well with the farmer and his fruit box.
Image credits in the order of the images: © SeNata – stock.adobe.com / © landpack.de / © Davide Angelini – stock.adobe.com
