As customers, we are sometimes misled by strategies companies deploy to increase sales. We must analyse the reason behind each of them and determine whether they are true. Let us be sustainable consumers, doing our part to protect our beautiful environment and supporting companies who genuinely do the same! Here are five ways to make our shopping more sustainable.
1. Understand that Free Shipping is a Myth!
Why do we get attracted when we see the word ‘FREE’ anywhere when we internally know that everything carries a price? We must change our mindset and understand that nothing is actually “FREE”
If it's free for you, it is paid for by someone else.
Free shipping (or no additional courier charges) frequently entices us to shop more online. But before you hit the ‘checkout’ button next time, consider the following:
- Who stands to gain the most from free shipping?
- Are there any hidden costs?
We hate to break the news to you. However, like with almost everything else, “free” shipping is not really free. Most of the time, these companies offering free shipping include hidden expenses in the prices of their products. Free shipping doesn’t genuinely exist. Free shipping is simply an eye wash, and hidden shipping costs are generally borne by the buyer, even if they are local buyers who live in the same or nearby place.
Some medium-scale companies add shipping charges to their products and partly bear the free shipping offer. These companies benefit the buyers and also attract more customers at the same time. So, the cost of a free shipment is either folded into the prices of the items or the company’s investors fund them to bear the shipment fee partly.
But, what about those companies which are small-scale businesses and are meeting their expenses with difficulty?
If this small-scale company decides not to charge a shipment fee for customer satisfaction, they may have to bear heavy losses. Also, for one-day delivery, when they have to send the product by air, there will be a massive sum of money charged by air cargo, which this small company must again pay.
This helps existing giants become bigger giants but mid-scale companies have to shut down even if they work for a noble cause.
How to help these noble ventures grow?
It’s us, consumers, who can help these ventures grow. These small businesses need our support and encouragement more than ever. Here are a few very consumer-friendly steps you can take immediately:
Resort to bulk buying -
This step guarantees a win-win situation for everyone mainly for four reasons;
- Firstly, this hugely benefits consumers as bulk orders have fewer shipping charges.
- Secondly, this benefits seller as time, effort, and packing material are reduced, ultimately reducing costs.
- Thirdly, the courier companies are also benefited just like the seller.
Finally, this step benefits Mother Nature. But how? Because transportation used to deliver your order burns fuel and pollutes the environment every time. So it’s up to you to decide whether to buy 20 kgs of your order in bulk or buy 5 kgs of the same order four times a year, increasing environmental pollution. Have you given this any thought?
Stop believing in free shipping -
We understand how difficult this is for you. However, when viewed from a greater perspective, it is not morally justifiable to base our decisions exclusively on free delivery. Instead, while placing an order, consider the following points
- After-sales services
- Customer support
- Refund policy
- High Product quality
- Aspirations to serve the globe
- Vision and mission of the company
- Eco-friendly product packaging
- Environmental and social responsibilities
2. Consider BIG VALUE PACKS to save more!
When we visit a department store or shop online for home products, some opt for larger value packs, family packs, or cost-saving packs, while others pick the smallest package.
But did you know that purchasing ‘bigger’ packs saves time and money and reduces our carbon footprint?
Have you ever questioned why almost every company makes the same item in large and smaller packs?
That’s because making bigger packs is a tremendous cost-cutting method. Let’s use an example to understand. Suppose you ordered four small packs of 1 kg jaggery powder each. How much labour or time was required to prepare one package?
How about the charges for the packing material for four packs, storage, and transportation?
Additional labour and fuel are needed for an extra number of deliveries. As a result, when the companies transport the item to us, they must spend more money on fuel, packing supplies, labour, etc.
Did you know this has the additional impact of creating environmental pollution? Therefore, a bigger box is more cost-effective for customers, courier companies, and sellers because it eliminates the expenses incurred by the companies to survive. Now, let’s talk about Mother Nature!
It may appear to be a minor problem, but if small packaging is not properly disposed of, it will never be recycled. This can lead to pollution. As a result, Mother Earth’s waste burden will increase. Also, while some of these packings can be recycled, many resources need to be completed in the process, and we need to pay more attention to this.
We all understand the need for recycling or reusing eco-friendly materials, but we must REDUCE it when it comes to packing.
3. Choose Eco-Packaging
Eco-packaging refers to packaging materials that are entirely biodegradable, compostable, reusable, recyclable & non-toxic with little or no environmental impact.
When you choose to purchase from companies that use eco-friendly packaging, you are at the least stopping your house waste from going into landfills. It helps reduce your overall carbon footprint & encourages many other companies to choose sustainable packaging materials too.
4. Avoid Online Marketplaces
What do you think — Do you really get it cheaper on marketplaces?
Many online shopping marketplaces that house different companies under them make it easy to shop for multiple items in one place, but at what cost?
Often the brands or sellers that sell their products on marketplaces must pay the marketplace at least 30% of the sale or more as listing and selling fees. They keep that profit margin in control by charging clients an additional fee. This makes it difficult for small businesses to maintain profitability.
So, how can we help these small businesses?
- Buy locally: We can start avoiding marketplaces and purchasing locally to end unfair marketing on online shopping platforms.
- Buy directly from brand websites: If you know a well-known brand, avoid marketplaces & purchase directly from their website. By doing this, we are supporting small businesses & also we can end these marketing wars and support small businesses that are working towards a noble cause.
5. Don't fall for sales and offers.
At some point, we all might have fallen for “Sales & Offers”.Buying new things is always on our minds; the must-have’s list never ends. The offers and discounts you just can’t say no to make it even easier to fall for the trap. Some online business brands on marketplaces usually claim that they offer discounts on sale days. We are getting an incredible deal, but all of these fees are disguised in the price listed – which the customer must pay. On the other hand, a medium or small-scale company may discount their items by compromising on their profit margins just to increase traffic on their website and get more customers.
So, it's essential to consciously consider the motive behind a sale/discount and choose the brand you want to shop from.
CONCLUSION
Our actions have resulted in the depletion of natural resources, yet our good deeds can also restore and protect our world. We hope you will consciously choose sustainable shopping the next time you shop online because it benefits you, the companies, and the environment.
It’s a journey, so if we start by taking just one step towards sustainable shopping, this will encourage everyone, and you will also get a lot of blessings on the way! So, let’s start making decisions that benefit others and the environment so that we all WIN. This is true success.
Let us be the generation that makes decisions based on what is best for our planet first, even if it means paying a little more upfront because we still save a lot to keep our world free of harm. Join us in making wise decisions for Mother Earth.
