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eCommerce Businesses and a Sustainable Future for Fashio
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Sustainability & Innovation

eCommerce Businesses & a Sustainable Future for Fashion

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As much as the fashion industry claims to be committed to eCommerce Businesses, it’s proven otherwise over the years. Of course, some brands have taken their efforts to better the health of our planet seriously. But there are so many more that have neglected to make any changes to their operations.

eCommerce Businesses

From vast amounts of excess inventory in our overcrowded landfills to transportation methods emitting tons of greenhouse gasses, fashion brands worldwide are contributing to a dangerous present and future for the environment.

Fortunately, there are steps fashion brands can take to become more sustainable. Here are seven of them.

ECommerce Businesses & Sustainability

Focus on Fundamental Changes

First, your efforts to be more sustainable must be rooted in fundamental changes. It’s the only way to gain traction as a sustainable fashion brand among consumers.

Nowadays, customers are actively searching for ethical brands. They’re researching the materials and manufacturing processes fashion brands are using to create their products. Furthermore, they’re also identifying their priorities before shopping, resulting in a push toward slow fashion.

Take all of these things into account when documenting your plan for making real strides toward a more ethical, sustainable fashion brand.

Use eCommerce to Your Advantage

One of your fundamental changes should be using eCommerce to your advantage.

Brick-and-mortar fashion stores absolutely contribute to our planet’s diminishing health. They use a lot of energy to keep the lights on. Their production methods lead to greenhouse gas emissions. And they’re responsible for way too much waste.

Taking advantage of an eCommerce business model, on the other hand, presents a chance to be much more sustainable. But the biggest thing is adopting more eco-friendly shipping methods, like shipping in bulk whenever possible and seeking out carbon-neutral shipping options.

As you focus on making your shipping process more environmentally friendly, make sustainable packaging the norm too.

Make Sustainable Packaging the Norm

Packaging plays a critical part in the sustainability movement for fashion brands. Plastic packaging, in particular, is incredibly wasteful. It’s also responsible for many issues with our ecosystems and can take years to degrade naturally.

Instead of mainly using plastic packaging materials, use those made from eco-friendly materials. Compostable, recycled, cornstarch or naturally biodegradable packaging materials are great alternatives.

In addition to sustainable packaging, explore sustainable transportation options.

Explore Sustainable Transportation Options

Much of the adverse effects on our planet come from the toxins and harmful gasses from transportation.

Fashion brands spend a lot of time and money transporting products to customers, their various warehouses, and their suppliers and manufacturers. And they’re burning a whole lot of fuel in the process, which produces toxic substances and continuously pushes pollution through the air.

It’s critical to explore sustainable transportation options. For example, you could use electric vehicles for delivery. Or, you could use trucks powered by biodiesel.

Therefore, all eCommerce businesses must be sure to have a plan for excess inventory as well.

Have a Plan for Excess Inventory

Excess inventory is one of the fashion world’s most pressing problems regarding sustainability. Most of it ends up in our landfills. All of the packaging from, time transporting, and energy-storing the excess inventory goes to waste as well.

To be a more sustainable fashion brand, prioritize reducing the environmental impact of your excess inventory. For example, use forecasting to make more informed supply decisions. Recycle, reuse, and repurpose excess stock. You could even sell your excess inventory to a consignment shop.

You can also become more sustainable by getting involved in the manufacturing process.

Get Involved in the Manufacturing Process

Getting involved in the manufacturing process is crucial for eCommerce businesses. Manufacturing is home to many of the planet’s enemies, including pollution, excess waste, and inefficient energy use. Fast fashion process, specifically, allows these things to go unchecked for profit, furthering the devastation.

Taking more ownership of your manufacturing process can help you progress your sustainability efforts. Ensure that your supplies and materials always come from ethical sources.

Also, commit to solely working with manufacturers and suppliers with sustainable practices. Visit them in person to gauge their working conditions. And secure their business practices are ethical.

Lastly, stay local.

Stay Local

One of the most significant steps to becoming a more sustainable fashion brand is to lean into local partnerships. Working with businesses across the world may be cost-effective, but it isn’t great for the health of our planet. Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation alone are alarming.

On the other hand, partnering with local businesses cuts down your transportation footprint and means a shorter lead time.

So, buy from local businesses and work with local manufacturers, suppliers, and other partners whenever possible.

ECommerce Businesses: Conclusion

A sustainable future for fashion is deeply entrenched in the eCommerce world. Thus, brands that want to be more sustainable must take advantage of this fact.

They must also focus on fundamental change, sustainable packaging and transportation options, and developing a plan for excess inventory. Relying on local partnerships and becoming fully involved in the manufacturing process are significant steps toward a more eco-friendly brand too.

See how you can take some of the steps above in your business to move toward a more sustainable operation.

Learn more about sustainable cosmetics and how they are changing the beauty market!

* Written by Frankie Wallace, Freelance Content Writer

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by Fashinnovation’s columnists are their own, not those of Fashinnovation.

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