The comfort of getting your items shipped has an environmental impact, so here are some ways brands can use more sustainable courier services and green up their parcel deliveries.Â
It doesnât really matter what kind of business you own and operate because there will always be something you can do to reduce your companyâs carbon footprint whilst doing something to reduce your dependence on natural resources. But what are consumers willing to do to reduce the environmental impact of shipping & opt for more sustainable courier services?
Key findings confirms that consumers want to have their products shipped sustainably [Source]:
- Home delivery is 24 times more eco-friendly than going on a shopping trip in your car.
- 94% of consumers care for the environment, but the vast majority still prefer fast, next-day delivery than an eco-friendly alternative.
- Over 43% of shoppers would pay ÂŁ1 or more for eco-friendly delivery, but a quarter would pay nothing.
- Half of consumers are unaware that next-day delivery is worse for the environment than standard delivery options.
- 7 out of 10 would consider shopping at a rival store should they offer more eco-friendly delivery options.
Packaging waste makes up one-third of what is delivered to landfills each year
At this point, you may be wondering just what you can do to green up a courier service that is dependent on so many natural resources until now. Bear in mind that the operative words here are âuntil now.â. If you are looking for ways to create a sustainable courier service, here are some amazingly effective ways for brands to green up parcel deliveries.
Invest in Eco-Friendly Vehicles
One of the most effective things you can do is to invest in eco-friendly vehicles that are powered by alternative fuel sources. Electric vehicles, EVs, are among the preferred ways to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.Â
You may have seen information on your courier insurance providerâs page about insuring EVs and that is because all the major insurers are helping the UK to reach its 2050 Net Zero initiative.Â
In fact, if you are comparing courier insurance rates between providers on sites like quotezone.co.uk, look at just how many companies will have information about the benefits of EVs on the ecology. It is an established fact that informed drivers are the least likely to drive the wrong vehicles for their purposes.
Use Digital Signage Upon Delivery
Sadly, we are cutting down our forests at astronomical rates and as a result, many woodlands are at risk. Instead of having customers sign paper receipts upon delivery of items they ordered from local shops, they are asked to sign a digital device to prove delivery of the item or items.Â
Strategically Plan Routes Where Possible
Unless you are called upon to pick up an item for immediate delivery, you might want to plan your delivery routes as carefully as possible. For example, if Company A has regularly scheduled pickup times for local deliveries, you might be able to plan those delivery routes strategically.Â
Altogether too many times couriers just pick up and go without planning a route that will get all items delivered in the most fuel efficient routes. Instead of driving aimlessly back and forth across town, one route with several deliveries along the path would save a ton of petrol, or battery power as the case may be.
Work More Closely with Your Clients
In fact, keeping the above idea in mind, you just might want to speak with some of your clients to see if they would be ready to schedule a pick-up time at the same time every day. This would help you to plan those strategic routes so that you consume as little petrol as possible.Â
These would be clients that have their own customers that require deliveries almost daily. Since they know who those customers are that schedule for deliveries regularly, they can be added to your ârouteâ if you explain what you are trying to accomplish. Just keep them on the daily schedule and if they donât require pickups on any given day, all you need to do is delete that stop along the way.
These are just a few of the ways to go green with a courier service in 2023. With a little bit of creativity, you can probably find even more sustainable ways to bring your courier service into the future toward Net Zero â and thatâs what going green is all about.
