How e-commerce platforms are making it easier for brands to be more sustainable

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How e-commerce platforms are making it easier for brands to be more sustainable

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Published: 12:00am, 4 Nov 2022

[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.]

Consumers are embracing greener shopping options and are demanding brands to build a more sustainable future. New research by Bain & Company found that 90% of consumers in Asia-Pacific are willing to spend a premium on sustainable products - showing brands that sustainability is important. Also, consumers are increasingly moving online, choosing to purchase their goods and services through e-commerce platforms rather than physical stores. To keep up with this shift in consumer demand, online platforms are now helping businesses on the sustainability journey.

Here are three ways e-commerce platforms are making it easier for brands to be more sustainable:

Repurposing pre-owned products

E-commerce companies provide a platform for brands to sell second-hand merchandise in a more streamlined way than through bricks and mortar. Online platforms allow shoppers to more easily and quickly buy second-hand goods, giving them a new life and helping the environment.

An example of this can be seen through integrated marketplace, Idle Fish, which is an e-commerce marketplace specifically for second-hand goods launched by Alibaba in 2014. They offer many tools and resources to help users sell pre-owned products on its platform. These include in-app price estimation as well as free door-to-door pickup, valuation and consignment services for dozens of product categories, including 3C electronics, clothing and collectible figures. Furthermore, the platform offers free door-to-door packing and recycling for clothing items. Since 2017, the platform has received more than 50,000 metric tons of pre-owned clothes, 23.7 million used books, 3.66 million mobile phones and 1.45 million large home appliances.

Carbon emission labelling

In the e-commerce industry, carbon labels or emission labels are becoming increasingly popular. They provide details about the carbon dioxide emissions associated with the manufacturing, transportation, and disposal of consumer goods. Information such as this has become increasingly relevant to consumers wishing to minimise their ecological footprints and global warming contributions.