Need Zero Waste eCommerce Fulfillment? Check This Out
The retail world has changed in recent years. With more and more shoppers taking to their laptops and mobiles instead of the shops, the e-commerce space is booming. In 2020 alone, the total of e- commerce sales in the US reached an incredible $759.4 billion – that’s an impressive 31.7% increase on 2019!
While there is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic played a significant role in this success, shoppers have grown fond of the convenience that online shopping provides. The world of e- commerce has found sure footing in our everyday lives, and it’s not about to blow away anytime soon!
While this is great news for online business owners, it inevitably comes with a range of complex issues that must be conquered by businesses who wish to thrive in the e-commerce space. The most significant? The environmental impact of shipping.
The Environmental Impact of the Shipping Sector: A Summary
Single-use plastics are everywhere, especially when it comes to e-commerce. Strong, versatile, hygienic, and lightweight, plastic is a popular primary and secondary packaging option. Whether its purpose is to contain food or clothing, plastic is durable and able to protect your retail goods during transit.
And yet, while the increasing popularity of online retail has been great for businesses worldwide, it’s not been so kind to our planet. As a direct result of its versatility, there is now 150 million metric tons of plastic waste that is wreaking havoc in landfills and oceans across the globe. Millions of animals, including birds, fish, and other livestock, are entangled or starved by plastics every year.
And that’s not all. Plastic is made using planet-warming fuels such as gas, oil, and coal that destroy the climate and pollute the air with harmful toxins. The shipping industry alone is responsible for around 2.5% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Evidently, our reliance on plastic is having a disastrous impact on the planet. It affects our precious wildlife and ecosystem, pollutes the air with harmful toxins, and contributes to global warming.
It is clear that something must be done to tackle the undue strain placed on our shared environment.
Eco-Friendly Shipping and Fulfillment Services
As a shipping and fulfillment center, it’s our duty to reduce our plastic and carbon footprints as much as possible. But how exactly do we achieve plastic-free, zero-waste shipment services?
Surprisingly, the answer is straightforward: with eco-friendly packaging.
Eco-Friendly Packaging: Everything You Need to Know
As more and more consumers grow wise to the effects of plastic packaging, eco-friendly packaging grows increasingly popular. So much so that Trivium Packaging found that almost 74% of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable packaging options. This trend has led to an increase in the production of eco-friendly, recyclable, biodegradable, and even compostable packaging materials.
AVL Fulfill is one of the very first fulfillment centers to offer plastic-free, zero-waste packaging and fulfillment solutions. From eco kraft mailers to corrugated cardboard boxes, water-activated tape to plastic-free shipping labels, we offer sustainable shipping solutions that don’t cost the earth!
Eco-Friendly Packaging: What to Expect
If you’re a could-be plastic convert, you might be wondering how eco-friendly packaging fares in comparison to its plastic counterpart. So, without further ado, let us tell you!
Strong and sturdy
Like plastic containers, our eco-friendly alternatives are strong and sturdy. Kraft paper is strong and coarse, making it highly tensile with impressive tear resistance. Likewise, corrugated card is thick and durable with triple-walled boxes being able to hold up to 300lbs in weight!
Aesthetic and appealing
Kraft mailers and corrugated card are both highly customizable. With excellent printing capabilities, you can incorporate the very best elements of your branding to showcase your business and increase awareness during each stage of shipment.
Cost-effective
At AVL Fulfill, we believe in providing order fulfillment and third-party logistics (3PL) that don’t break the bank. Our plastic-free fulfillment options are no different! Continuing to pair speed and competitive prices with high-quality solutions, our plastic-free packaging will continue to help your business thrive.
Zero Waste
Most importantly, our plastic-free packaging options cause zero waste. Our mailers, boxes, tape, and labels can all be recycled to help reduce our plastic footprint and our fossil fuel consumption. That’s a win-win in our eyes!
Choose AVL for Plastic-Free, Zero-Waste Fulfillment
As our businesses continue to grow in the e-commerce space, we have a duty to adopt responsible practices that protect our planet. By opting for plastic-free, zero-waste packaging and order fulfillment solutions, we help to reduce our plastic and carbon footprints and continue serving our customers without causing further harm to the earth.
For more information about our zero-waste fulfillment and 3PL services, get in touch with a member of our team today. Let’s work together to create a greener planet!
