A few days ago, eBay’s Green Team was publically introduced to the world. A specific part of eBay’s website is now dedicated to educating buyers and sellers on how to reduce their impact on the environment.

The initiative was inspired, in part, by the record number of customers choosing to buy items that could be classified as “used”, “organic”, “refurbished”, “vintage”, “sustainable” or “remainder.” It was recognized that customers’ decisions to purchase these types of items were better for the environment, in comparison to the resources required to build new products.

This got me thinking about the environmental impact of the average online business. In particular, I began to think of simple ways that every online business could reduce carbon footprints regardless of the types of products they were selling.

Then the obvious, environmentally-endangering facet of online business came to mind- shipping. No one can deny the impact that shipping has on the environment, but few business owners know of any alternatives to their usual carbon-dependent methods.

Though the idea of “green shipping” has been around for awhile, it hasn’t received nearly enough publicity to make it a staple in the online business world.

First, a little definition…

Kyla Taylor explains green shipping as such:

The theory behind green shipping is that if you can’t shop local you can at least void the impact made by using the far reaches of the Web to bring you a better deal. Shipping has two components that are difficult from the perspective of environmental sustainability: heating, powering and running large storage facilities, and transporting shipments.

From that definition, you can probably see that everything having to do shipping has an environmental price. However, these costs can be counteracted with some resourcefulness and the use of some simple tips. Green shipping won’t “reverse” impact in the strictest sense of the world, but it will reduce impact so that it’s at the same level as a local purchase. It’s called “carbon-neutral shipping.” And that’s really something.

So what are some green shipping tips?

Services and Programs

There are a number of third-party green shipping services that can help business owners with green shipping. For example, ShipGreen can be integrated in ecommerce shopping carts, informs customers of their environmental impact using a complex algorithm and offers a green shipping option that customers can choose. As resourceful as green shipping is, it also costs money. Given this, customers or business owners can donate a small fee so that their products can be shipped “green.” Programs like CarbonFund can also certify products as carbon-free.

Everyday Tips

There are simple solutions that can be used by the average small business, too.

• Recycling From Suppliers

Simply recycling packaging and shipping materials from suppliers is one way to reduce impact. How many air-filled bags do you receive from suppliers? How much shredded paper? Cardboard-based material? Plastic wrap? Boxes? Packing peanuts? All of this can be reused to ship products out to your customers. Doing this can reduce your costs and help the environment at the same time. 

• Buying Recycled Material

Purchasing recycled packaging materials is another option- and they don’t have to be purchased “new”, either. UsedCardBoardBoxes  gives you access to shipping boxes that have been previously used. LooseFillPackaging offers solutions for business owners looking for plastic loose fill or packing peanuts. The best part? They can be picked up locally. If you choose to purchase “new” recycled materials, look for certain elements. Opting for shipping materials that are natural, biodegradable, CFC-less and made of renewable and recyclable materials with little or no associated pollution can really help the environment.

In a marketing sense, one of the most positive effects of going green is that you can advertise it. Being an environmentally-friendly company can do a lot for your brand. It shows that you’re conscious of the environment’s needs and are socially responsible. Going green can also increase your visibility by positioning you in the media as a forward-thinking business. In business, where everyone is looking for an edge, going green could be what sets you apart from superficial competition that advocate going green but don’t actually do it.

Really, there is an environmental issue associated with almost every recycled product. If your business has an environmental issue that it can be tied to, why not use it to your advantage? For instance, if you sell recycled auto parts, consider choosing shipping materials that were made without foreign oil dependence- and then publicize your decision.

Going green with your shipping is clearly a win-win decision for sellers and the world at large. It’s just a shame that many business owners don’t look into or or discount it. Do you go green with any of your shipping decisions?