A 2018 Nielsen survey found that 73% of consumers worldwide would change their buying habits if it meant a reduction in their environmental impact. But while it’s clear that many customers want to help save the planet, the lack of access to sustainable options and the relatively small number of businesses that want to take serious action remain serious problems.
Given that e-commerce customers would choose to save the planet if they had the chance, being part of the solution to the world’s environmental challenges makes perfect business sense. Here are some of the ways that you can build a truly eco-friendly e-commerce operation:
1) Use a Green Website Framework
The servers and other facilities that make modern e-commerce possible consume a mind-boggling amount of energy. Unfortunately, this is a problem as carbon-emitting fossil fuels are still the world’s primary source of energy. Thankfully, some e-commerce site framework developers are taking action to reduce their carbon emissions. Shopify, one of the world’s most popular e-commerce platforms, is now 100% carbon neutral, making it the best platform for online businesses with a pro-climate stance.
One thing to note is that Shopify’s default payment gateway, Shopify Payments, is not available in the Philippines. Fortunately, with a simple plugin from Maya, you can install a Shopify payment gateway that lets you accept any digital payment used in the Philippines. In fact, with its wide range of supported payments, Maya’s solution is the third-party payment gateway Shopify store owners prefer for the domestic market.
2) Update Your Brand Mission
Taking action for the environment shouldn’t be a one-time deal or something that you just do in one area of your operations. If you want to help heal the planet, you need to make sure that your whole business organization is invested in the cause. By updating your mission to reflect that priority, you can ensure that your employees and customers alike understand that you take green e-commerce seriously.
3) Reduce Your Packaging
The rise of e-commerce has, unfortunately, also caused the amount of packaging waste to skyrocket, with the bulk of this detritus ending up in landfills or in the world’s oceans. The first thing to do is to stop using excessive product packaging. If you develop products in-house, try to find green or minimalist packaging solutions that still work to protect and showcase your products. When relevant, work with your suppliers and relevant government agencies to find solutions to cut down on the packaging waste produced by your operations.
4) Let Customers Fund Climate Action Organizations at Checkout
Most e-commerce website frameworks give you options for customizing the checkout experience. Give your customers more ways to express their support by allowing them to donate to organizations that work for environmental causes. If you’re on Shopify, you should be able to quickly set up your checkout process to add the options you need.
5) Find Sustainable Shipping Partners
Collaborating with a shipping partner who is as committed to sustainability as you not only appeals to environmentally conscious consumers but also enhances your business’s reputation. Despite common misconceptions, sustainable shipping partners can also be economical choices as sustainable practices like route optimization and employing fuel-efficient vehicles also contribute to cost savings for everyone involved.
6) Sell Used Merchandise
Selling properly labeled used products at a discount prevents material waste and attracts cost-conscious customers to your online store. As a bonus, doing so can help your online shop build a unique inventory, creating positive implications for your shop’s online visibility.
Maya Helps Transform Your E-Commerce Business into an Eco-Champion
Sign up for Maya Business today to download the Maya Plugin for Shopify. Process any digital payment while continuing to enjoy Shopify’s best-in-class, carbon-neutral e-commerce platform. With Shopify’s green framework and our plugin for installing a Shopify payment gateway, you can help protect the environment while accepting all popular forms of payments today.
Signing up for Maya Business also lets you enjoy the Maya 1-2-3 Grow bundle. Maya 1-2-3 Grow gives your business a 1% MDR (merchant discount rate) discount on all QR Ph transactions for 3 months after signing. This rate gives your e-commerce operation an extra PHP 14,600 in savings for every PHP 1 million in QR Ph sales.
The Maya 1-2-3 Grow bundle also gives you access to a high-interest-rate Maya Business Deposit account for your settlements. Your Maya Business Deposit account comes with a top-tier 2.5% per annum interest rate, growing your funds 20-25x faster than other local business banking products. At 2.5% per annum, your business funds will earn PHP 25,000 each year for every PHP 1 million deposit. With Maya Business Deposit’s zero maintaining balance and free transfers via InstaPay and PESONet, you’ll save even more.
The exclusive Maya 1-2-3 Grow bundle also entitles you to a Maya Flexi Loan offer as large as PHP 2 million in just 3 months—just what you need to transition to greener e-commerce operations. To increase your next loan offers, all you need to do is use Maya as your primary processor for all wallet and card payments.
