Practical Tips to Make eCommerce Shipping More Sustainable

By Patrick Kelley, Aug. 13, 2024

As eCommerce continues to grow, it presents opportunities for companies to make a sustainable difference in all facets of business, including shipping. Incorporating sustainable practices, while using data to pinpoint areas for improvement, is crucial to stay ahead of trends and reduce your environmental footprint. 

At OSM Worldwide, we know that eco-friendly practices are not only good for the planet, but also your business’s long-term success. Embrace these practical tips to create a greener and more sustainable eCommerce business.

Partner with Sustainability-Conscious Companies

One step towards sustainable shipping is to partner with companies that are equally dedicated to protecting the environment. Look for organizations committed to sustainability; they should optimize logistics for lower emissions, minimize waste and energy consumption and engage in other environmentally responsible practices. For example, OSM Worldwide is a proud CarbonNeutral® certified company. This means we’re certified to the highest worldwide standard for efforts aimed at reducing our total carbon footprint. We offset any remaining emissions by investing around the world in projects (such as solar and wind power) which provide verified greenhouse gas reduction or removal. By choosing partners like OSM, you can significantly contribute to a more sustainable future.

Embrace Eco-Friendly Packaging

Switching to eco-friendly packaging—such as recycled or biodegradable packaging materials—is an important part of conserving limited resources. Another area where business owners can make a significant difference is by reducing or right-sizing packaging. This means using the smallest amount of material necessary to protect your products during transit. It reduces waste and shipping costs while minimizing the environmental impact. Encourage your team to adopt a sustainability mindset when selecting materials for shipments.

Reuse Gaylord Boxes and Pallets

Gaylord boxes and pallets can be reused multiple times before needing to be recycled. Reusing them helps significantly reduce waste and the need for new materials. Ensure that your shipping and logistics operations include processes for maintaining and reusing these items.

Make Every Mile Count with Optimized Logistics

Optimizing fleet logistics and improving last-mile efficiencies can help reduce fuel use and carbon emissions in delivery solutions. OSM’s Premium Network® leverages existing networks for last-mile delivery, reducing the number of trips made by multiple carriers. This minimizes transportation emissions and enhances, supporting our sustainability goals while also providing a more cost-effective solution for our business and customers.

Use Analytics to Achieve Greater Environmental Efficiency

Data from business intelligence tools and processes can be instrumental in helping companies pinpoint areas, such as route optimization, where they can reduce daily operational inefficiencies, as well as their environmental footprint. By using these tools or partnering with a shipper that has robust systems in place, your business can gather key sustainability metrics such as energy use, waste generation and greenhouse gas emissions to make informed operational decisions.

Another significant benefit of business intelligence is that it allows companies to track progress and identify areas where improvements have been made by comparing energy usage and output year-over-year. By using data to inform sustainability initiatives, you can work towards greater operational efficiency, reduce costs and improve brand reputation.

Tracking key metrics—such as electricity use, business travel (by car and flight), waste generation, water consumption, employee commuting and transportation data for trucks—is essential for evaluating a company’s environmental performance. Regularly monitoring these data points helps identify areas of high environmental impact and allows companies to develop strategies to reduce their footprint.

Stay Informed

Keeping abreast of new sustainability practices can provide inspiration and practical ideas for your own business. Industry reports, case studies, and networking with peers can reveal innovative strategies and solutions. By learning from others, you can adopt proven practices and stay ahead of the curve.

If you found this article helpful, check out more of our blog content. You can learn about topics such as how to leverage business intelligence in shipping, signs it may be time to reconsider your shipping partner and navigating social commerce to grow sales.

OSM Worldwide’s data-driven approach can determine the right domestic shipping and international shipping strategy to implement for your business. Contact us today to discuss your shipping needs.

About the Author

Patrick Kelley, executive vice president and co-founder of OSM Worldwide, leads the company in product development and price modeling. Patrick stays abreast of market trends affecting the shipping and transportation industry and works closely with partners to decode regulations and negotiate the best possible experience for customers.