Sustainable Marketplaces are gaining a lot of traction. Ever wondered why? The pandemic over the past few years has made D2C brands re-evaluate how they engage in business with their consumers as well as with their partners. This shift in mindset goes beyond addressing supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19; it aims to future-proof businesses and promote long-term sustainability. Sustainability is a trending topic amongst corporations who are now showcasing their inclination in moving away from profit to a more sustainable future. Increasing conscience coupled with growing regulations provides a platform for not only D2C organizations but also organizations across industries and countries to adopt sustainability as a part of their organization manifesto.
Marketplaces & D2C brands are particularly reliant on a robust supply chain, and any disruption can have severe consequences for operators. Successfully navigating COVID-19 has taught us that strengthening the supply chain alone is insufficient to overcome future challenges. To ensure resilience and viability in the long run, sustainability must be integrated into every aspect of the supply chain. Let’s chart out a roadmap of where we can possibly introduce the concept of sustainability in your present supply chain operations. A user sitting at home would like to order a product from your website. How can we introduce sustainability at the very first stage?
Simple, your brand’s journey towards sustainability begins with its commitment to using eco-friendly materials, products, and processes. Even the digitization of the online ordering platform itself can reduce paper consumption. Another perspective that can benefit local communities and the environment greatly is the inclusion of local artisans and materials to create your products. We as Shipturtle have been especially grateful to brands that have undertaken this journey to become sustainable marketplaces and considered us worthy to be partners. These partners are making efforts to incorporate various elements of this phenomenon into their supply chain.
Sustainable brands often try to balance customer expectations of easy, fast and convenient delivery while choosing methods which minimize their carbon footprint. Selecting the right packaging has become crucial in managing your environmental impact. While customer expectations remain a priority, incentivizing sustainable practices can be an alternative approach to greening your supply chain. Making eco-friendly packaging and recycling accessible, perhaps through subsidies, can further encourage eco-conscious choices. Another aspect of sustainability comes from sourcing your products locally so that the harm to the environment is much lesser and at the same time, the brand is generating opportunities for locals.
Moreover, bulk deliveries are more environmentally friendly than individual shipments. When customers wish to return products, utilizing bulk shipping and strategically identifying recyclable or reusable items can reduce waste.
Sustainable Marketplaces can only be embedded in the minds of the consumer if we utilize technology in ways that can not only increase efficiency but also keep in mind that they need to make the processes viable in the long run from a sustainability perspective. High-quality D2C products can reduce the number of returns and, consequently, minimize carbon footprint. Incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) regulations from the outset of your supply chain not only contributes to a more sustainable way of doing business but also protects organizations against regulatory risks.
We are proud to partner with various D2C brands that have been on the journey of sustainability or have started to move towards an eco-friendly approach. Typically, D2C brands will not only require technology to traverse this complex path of sustainability but also the right talent and association with industry bodies. A large number of our clients are associated with industry/trade bodies which have sustainability at the top of their agenda thereby reaping the benefits of having external support and industry best practices. We have an
increased number of queries from brands which proactively inquire about how they can achieve sustainability by associating with a technology partner.
#SOS – Shop only sustainable is the philosophy of Brown Living which is India’s first plastic-free marketplace for a wide range of everyday use products, specially curated for a sustainable, vegan, chemical free and zero-waste lifestyle. Each product is made locally in India and handpicked after evaluating its environmental impact. All orders are packaged & shipped plastic-free. They plant trees from our profits to ensure your orders are carbon neutral as well. Shipturtle has had a long association with Brown Living and has been inspired by the brand to enable them in their philosophy to create products which are sustainable and benefit local artisans simultaneously.
Shipturtle has been a part of the journey for many such brands and is proud to foster and nurture them to grow further in their journey so that we can build a sustainable future together.
