By
Sarah Harris
In the rapidly changing business landscape, it is essential for companies to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to sustainable practices. One of the most important ways to do this is through carbon neutral shipping. This method of shipping offsets the carbon footprint of the shipping process, allowing businesses to be more eco-friendly while still providing high-quality service to their customers. In this blog post, we’ll explore what is carbon neutral shipping and the benefits it can offer businesses.
Why Go Carbon Neutral?
Going carbon neutral is a great way to show customers that your company takes environmental concerns seriously. Eco-conscious consumers will be more willing to order your products if they know that your company is reducing its impact on the planet. In some cases, going to carbon neutral shipping can even be cheaper.
Because shipping can be a wasteful process, it’s a great planet-saving endeavor to make it as eco-friendly as possible. Using recycled materials means reducing the need to harvest new materials.
Carbon neutral shipping works by offsetting the carbon emissions created by the shipping process. This is done by investing in carbon offsets, such as renewable energy projects, to balance out the emissions created by the shipping process.
How to Reduce Carbon Emissions from Shipping
Are you prepared to take action for the environment and meet the growing need for sustainable shipping? Here is what needs to be done.
Determine Your Carbon Footprint
You might have heard about Scopes 1, 2, and 3 when companies calculate their carbon footprints. Here’s what each scope means.
Scope 1
This scope is your company’s direct emissions, which includes all the fuel you use in your daily operations, whether at your facility or in company vehicles.
Scope 2
Scope 2 consists of all the electricity your business uses, as well as heat or steam for heating and cooling.
Scope 3
This scope encompasses the impacts employees have on the environment through their commute or business travel, purchased goods and services and waste production.
Each of these metrics carries an average CO2 emission, allowing businesses to calculate their carbon footprint for a given period. Once you have your CO2 emissions recorded, you can use online carbon footprint calculators or hire an outside company to crunch your numbers.
Use Recycled and Recyclable Packing Materials
Not only do you want to use as many recycled and recyclable materials as you can, but you also want to make it easy for the customer to recycle your packaging. Give clear instructions on packages if any materials need to be separated and make it possible to separate them.
Paper
Recycling paper is one of the easiest ways to help the environment and save money. It is an easy and cost-effective way to reduce waste, conserve natural resources and create a cleaner and healthier environment. On the plus, paper is a cost-effective shipping material.
Bioplastics
Unlike traditional petroleum-based plastics, bioplastics are derived from plants and are biodegradable. They have a range of applications, from food packaging to medical supplies and more. They can be composted with little effort.
Inflatable Packaging
Both inflatable air pillows and corrugated bubble wrap can be sourced from recycled materials. Usually, they can be recycled themselves. Because they’re mostly air, there’s less material used.
Biodegradable Plastics
Whether they’re sourced from petroleum or plants, biodegradable plastics have become more widely available and are being used in a variety of products, from food containers to packaging materials. They are designed to break down when exposed to light or heat, which means they can be used to create items that won’t linger in landfills and oceans for years.
Reusable Materials
You can give customers added value by delivering products in reusable packaging. The packaging should be made from eco-friendly materials, too. This packaging could be reusable and resealable bags, for instance. You might include freezer packs for food deliveries that can be reused.
Metals
Recycling metal is a process that has been around for centuries, but it wasn’t until recently that it became a mainstream practice. Metal recycling is a great way to reduce waste, conserve natural resources and save energy. It can also help to reduce air and water pollution, as well as the material going to landfills.
Minimize Overall Packaging
Shipping a tiny item in a large box is wasteful in terms of materials and cost. Keeping packages as small as possible means that you:
- Reduce the amount of space taken up in delivery vehicles
- Reduce the weight of the package
- Lower shipping costs
- Keep the customer from having to handle more material than they need to
Minimizing packaging reduces costs and frustration across the board.
Avoid Single-Use Plastic When Possible
When plastic can only be used once and then must be thrown away, there’s a missed opportunity on the part of the shipper. For instance, plastic bubble wrap tends to get popped, and then it’s just a useless plastic sheet. Alternatives include scrunched-up kraft paper and corrugated bubble wrap. Not only are they recyclable, but they are also able to be reused.
Even if you’re using all eco-friendly packaging but your product itself uses lots of single-use plastic, that’s still an area where you’re creating waste. Look for ways to make your products use less single-use plastic, too.
Split Inventory to Multiple Fulfillment Centers
Having your products in fulfillment centers close to where customers live is a win all around. The products don’t have to travel as far, which reduces your shipping costs and carbon emissions. Customers also receive the products faster than they would have otherwise.
Purchase Carbon Offsets
By purchasing carbon offsets, companies can balance their emissions with reductions made by verified climate projects. For each credit purchased, a specific amount of CO2 will be eliminated from the environment. This practice helps to reduce a company’s overall carbon footprint and contribute positively towards combating global warming.
Help the Environment and Win Customers with Print Bind Ship
Using less packaging and establishing a network of fulfillment centers can be tough. Having Print Bind Ship do that work for you is easy. We take care of the inventory, the packaging and the shipping so you don’t have to.Print Bind Ship operates globally, and we know how to make customers and businesses happy. You get more sustainable shipping, and your customers get the peace of mind that you’re doing your part to help the environment. Contact Print Bind Ship today!
FAQ
Shipping using carbon offsetting reduces the number of carbon emissions released into the environment by purchasing credits that go towards programs that reduce greenhouse gas output around the world.
No, but USPS has reduced carbon emissions by more than 30% over the last 20 years, and that number is expected to grow dramatically over the next 10 years.
By adding up the carbon emissions from all aspects of a company’s operations, the average CO2 use can be calculated. If there is no net production of carbon dioxide, then a business is carbon neutral.
Carbon neutral shipping services generally cost more than traditional shipping services, as they require additional investment in carbon offsets. However, the cost is often offset by the environmental benefits and the potential savings from reduced emissions.
When selecting a shipping provider, look for one that offers carbon neutral shipping. Many shipping companies offer this service, which will offset the emissions created by the shipping process.