What do sustainable DTC customers expect?

What do you think when you receive a small item in a giant box full of plastic or Styrofoam? Are you impressed?

Probably not.

Why?

Because it’s wasteful and no one wants all that plastic and Styrofoam filling up their trash bags. Even the environmentally unconscious care when packing materials dominate their trash.

And that’s talking about customers who don’t necessarily care about the environment. But what of your customers who do care? They’re going to be doubly unimpressed.

Don’t risk your profits and your customer base by failing to consider the packaging materials you use. It’s just not worth it.

The population of environmentally conscious customers is growing, as are their expectations. So, what do they expect?

They expect your product to be:

1.    Sustainably Sourced

2.    Sustainably Packaged

3.    Sustainably Shipped

Notice the common denominator? Customers want your products to be sustainably sourced, packaged, and shipped.

What does that entail exactly?

I’m glad you asked.

Sustainably Sourced: This is a huge topic. In a nutshell, sustainable sourcing considers social, environmental, and economic factors when choosing a supplier.

Sustainably Packaged: The biggest pitfall here is using plastic in your packaging. Want to raise red flags and make your customers question other aspects of your business? Show your lack of concern by using plastic or other non-sustainable materials.

Instead, try using aluminum or paper materials. Paper, particularly, is a popular and cost-effective way to not use plastic in your packaging.

The last step, but the most critical and often most ignored is how your sustainable package actually arrives…

Sustainably Shipped: Does your package arrived nestled in a box crammed with bubble wrap? Air pillows? Plastic tape? With a rare exception, your customer will not be impressed. Ensuring your package looks sustainable is vital to your brand and customer experience.

The world is changing. Customers are growing more savvy and environmentally aware. Don’t risk losing them because you failed to change with them. Learn. Grow. Adapt—Think sustainability for your client, your company, and your planet.

For more information on how to ship sustainably check out our bubble wrap replacement article link