Amazon is surveying sellers to get feedback on several sustainability initiatives it's considering. But the survey went to sellers who fulfill their own orders (FBM), since Amazon already has control over how sustainable its packages and deliveries are for third-party sellers who use its FBA fulfillment service.
Amazon wanted to know which sustainability initiatives and processes sellers had implemented or planned to implement, and probed sellers about reasons for those who are not doing so.
For example, it asked sellers who weren't using shipping methods with reduced carbon footprint if it was because their carriers didn't offer such shipping methods, or if sellers believed it would have negative impacts (such as extending delivery time, or be disruptive and challenging to accommodate), or if sellers didn't see value or thought it was too expensive, for example.
Amazon similarly asked sellers who weren't using sustainable packaging for their reasons.
Amazon also provided an indication of what types of initiatives it might be considering. The survey provided the following list of sustainability efforts by Amazon to help sellers become more sustainable and asked respondents to indicate their importance:
- Access to lower carbon shipment options from my preferred carriers
- Offer branded sustainable packaging for sale
- Offer unbranded sustainable packaging for sale
- Offer tools to optimize my packaging for lower environmental impact
- Repurposing/channeling returns to help grow my renewed products business
- Reducing waste from returns
- Provide general education on sustainability
- Help calculating carbon emissions
- Providing sustainability insights about my business, along with recommendations
- Supply chain transparency (raw materials, inbound transportation, manufacturing, etc.)
- Showing customers when my product is shipped locally
- Transparency to customer when my product uses sustainable packaging
- Showing customers when my product ships with a lower carbon ship method
- Provide support to obtain the Climate Pledge Friendly certification
- Becoming signatory of The Climate Pledge
- Offering incentives for making sustainability investments
(It's interesting that Amazon raised the possibility of it offering sustainable packaging - is it something would you consider buying - branded or unbranded?)
The survey also asked respondents about which of the following factors would get them to them consider sustainability investments moving forward:
- Learning about new programs that are a god fit for my business
- Obtaining financial incentives from e-commerce marketplaces I use
- If the marketplaces I use add/mandate sustainability requirement
- More demand from customers for sustainable products and processes
- More information on the impact and benefit of sustainable products and processes
- More government regulation
- More government incentives
- Other
Just like other large companies, Amazon works to influence government policies and regulations. They could be collecting data in part to share with lawmakers to influence their decision-making.
In addition, Amazon knows that shoppers are increasingly paying attention to how their items are packaged - and items ordered on Amazon but fulfilled by merchants may reflect on Amazon.
Readers, would you welcome information or resources from Amazon to help you operate with sustainability in mind?
And would you welcome incentives from the government - or from Amazon - for making sustainability investments in your business?
The AuctionBytes Blog has been giving a voice to online merchants since its launch in 2005. Named one of the world's top 30 blogs in 2008 by "Blogging Heroes." Weigh in with your thoughts on the joys and pitfalls of selling online.
Would You Accept Amazon's Help on Sustainability?
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