Highlighting Your Sustainable Brand on Amazon During Earth Month
Earth Day is only a few weeks away, but practicing sustainability and deploying climate-friendly strategies for your brand can be celebrated year-round. Amazon has made it easier than ever to help consumers discover climate-friendly brands while encouraging businesses to take part in protecting the natural world.
Some examples of sustainable practices businesses can be rewarded for are:
- Products made with great efficiency and maximum carbon reduction can be certified by Energy Star.
- Products made meeting standards that promote safety, sustainability, and empowerment in the workplace can be Fair Trade Certified.
- Brands that support responsible forestry to help keep forests healthy for future generations can be certified by The Forest Stewardship Council.
- Products grown and processed according to standards addressing soil and water quality can be certified by USDA Organic.
With over 50 certifiers, and more being added every year, it’s never been more in brands’ best interests to prioritize sustainable business models. This year, celebrate Earth Month on Amazon with a commitment to maximizing profits with eco-friendly strategies that help make the world a better place.
Climate Pledge Friendly Meaning
Searching on Amazon, you’ve likely seen Climate Pledge Friendly labels on certain products. Amazon, co-founding with Global Optimism, announced The Climate Pledge initiative in 2019, calling on all signatories to be net-zero carbon across their business by 2040 (a decade ahead of the Paris Agreement). Climate Pledge Friendly (CPF) badges were rolled out onto the marketplace shortly thereafter. Brands that have received external certifications (from environmental-focused governmental agencies, non-profits, independent laboratories, and Amazon itself in special cases) for their products being sustainably produced receive these badges on their PDPs, prominently displayed to catch shoppers’ attention. This indicates to consumers that the brand is committed to preserving the natural world, and prioritizes sustainable business practices.
Climate Pledge signatories do not automatically receive a CPF badge, but all brands are welcome to participate, support, and join Amazon’s commitment to sustainability. Plus, Amazon has stated that “many customers are looking for these kinds of products, and [Amazon is] taking actions to help customers more conveniently discover and shop for Climate Pledge Friendly products.” With CPF products receiving priority treatment on the marketplace, and consumer demand already high for eco-friendly products, getting accredited for a CPF badge is a smart move for every brand. And the best part — the program is completely free for all Amazon Sellers.
Best Practices for Sustainability in eCommerce
Determining the best climate-friendly strategy for your brand can be difficult — balancing consumer sentiments with the realities of running a business is no easy task! That’s why we’ve compiled here a list of best practices brands can take to start moving in that direction:
- Consider your brand philosophy. To be a sustainable business, your brand’s core values should be reflected on all channels. This can be done by incorporating a strong statement that promotes sustainability on your:
- Website
- Blog posts
- Social media
- Sustainable shipping. There are many ways to reduce the environmental impact of shipping, such as using recyclable packaging or printing labels using thermal printers to save ink. Eco-friendly programs from major carriers like FedEx, UPS, and USPS can lead to paperless invoicing and other great green options.
- Reduce packaging. Using packages that are too big not only wastes cardboard but also requires more packing material to protect products. In contrast, shipping in the right-sized box lowers shipping costs, the cost of packaging, and your brand’s carbon footprint.
- Lower your return rate. Make shipping practices more sustainable by minimizing the amount of merchandise shoppers return. Accomplish this with detailed PDP content and sizing information to ensure customers are well-informed about their purchases.
- Use recyclable materials. Companies can also reduce waste by choosing sustainable packaging and eco-friendly packaging materials. Using recyclable cardboard boxes and mailers and making recycling easier for customers and businesses can dramatically reduce the amount of waste produced.
Learn more about how to make your eCommerce brand more sustainable by exploring further best practices here!
Macarta is Here to Help
We’ve helped large and small brands achieve major successes for nearly a decade, and we look forward to driving that success into the future. With everything from Brand Store optimization to advanced DSP solutions, we’ve been pushing retail media advertising to its limits to meet eCommerce trends and ensure major successes for our Brand Partners.
From our Denver-based headquarters, and with offices worldwide, Macarta is a global full-service marketplace agency specializing in retail media to drive growth and sustained success for our brand partners. Reach out to us here, and let’s get started!