Customers are being more socially responsible with their buying and value companies that have the same thinking. Customers can be selective with their choice of e-commerce offerings as the internet fosters a socially responsible consumer base.
Non Ethical practises include selling non medical miracle cures like weight loss pills and hair loss creams that have no real research to back up claims, sites that are built to deceive customers with false promises, sites that sell conflict items (such as gold and diamonds from Africa) or items associated animal testing. These at all costs should be avoided.
But how can you be green on the hyperweb?
-Increase your product range to provide environmentally friendly and fair trade products
-Reduce excess packaging and marketing materials, can it be recyclable?
-Allow customers to reserve on-line and pick up in store
-Off set your carbon footprint by recycling and re-using within your company. Take part in local and national environmental improvements where you can.
-Publish your environmental policy and encourage your customers to re-use packaging and recycle
-Send email invoices to reduce paper use
-Use electronic means of keeping customer information and office memo’s, again keep aper use to a minimum and reduce waste. -Recycle all waste paper.
You don’t have to spend a huge amount of money within a company to be green. For example, as a small e-commerce store owner. I re-use all bulk hair packaging, use a single blue plastic mailing bag and also re-cycle paper and plastic where I can as part of a routine. Small steps can help an e-commerce company be that little bit greener, and help build customer loyalty.
The Find Now has a green shopping site!
