The importance of sustainable retail this peak season

Written by nShift | Oct 14, 2024 1:24:25 PM

by Mattias Gredenhag, CTO at nShift

No matter what season it is, sustainable retail is high on the agenda for shoppers.

As we head into the peak period, how retailers display and deliver on their environmental commitments is likely to make a big difference when it comes down to performance - both in the shopping period itself and to keep customers returning long after the pre-festive frenzy has passed.

Win hearts, minds and custom

While bargains, deals and discounts grab the headlines, shoppers want to make this peak season as sustainable as possible – even if it means paying more for products and deliveries. PwC research reveals that 80% of consumers are willing to pay extra for a more sustainable shopping experience with products considered to be ethically sourced or recyclable attracting a premium of almost 10%.

To win the hearts, minds and custom of these shoppers, it's vital for retailers to reflect their values. This means that, for ecommerce and multichannel vendors, demonstrating eco-credentials is no longer ‘a nice to do’. It’s a critical means of attracting and retaining customers.

Four ways to improve sustainability in retail

However, there are some simple strategies that retailers can use to create a more sustainable shopping experience this peak season. These are:

Offering sustainable delivery options at checkout – some shoppers will pay more for a lower-emissions delivery. It’s crucial that online retailers offer these options at checkout. They also need to ensure that they are clearly labeling these options so that the shopper can find what they are looking for quickly
Giving shoppers a chance to give back – consumers seek brands and retailers that share their ethical values. Retailers should consider configuring their checkout so that specific delivery options automatically trigger a donation to a sustainable or charitable cause
Measuring carbon emissions –if online retailers measure the carbon emissions associated with each shipment, they gain real evidence to demonstrate that their eco-strategies are working
Driving returns in store – through a digital returns process, multichannel retailers can give people the chance to return items for free provided that they take them in store. This reduces the emissions associated with the delivery and return. It also creates an opportunity for a customer to talk to a salesperson who can encourage them to exchange, rather than return, their item

Make your peak season green

Looking beyond the 2024 peak season, retailers need hard and fast measures to measure and reduce their carbon footprint, in line with ESG and CSRD requirements.

nShift’s delivery & experience management (DMXM) solutions give retailers the ability to create a great joined-up delivery experience which helps retailers minimize carbon emissions in the last mile.

From checkout to returns, companies can manage each aspect of the process from one platform, ensuring an integrated customer experience.

nShift Checkout fully integrates with web shops to seamlessly display a range of delivery options.

nShift Emissions Tracker helps ecommerce companies and warehouses calculate, record, and analyze greenhouse gas emissions for every shipment.

When it comes to retail sustainability and for more advice on how to make the most of peak season visit https://nshift.com/black-friday

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