Sustainable eCommerce fulfillment solutions
Sustainable fulfillment that’s more than a buzzword
Billions of boxes, tonnes of waste, and endless delivery miles—it all adds up. At Autofulfil, we’re doing something about it.
We’ve been a carbon-neutral fulfillment centre since 2022, offsetting almost 2.5 million lbs of CO₂. And we’re not stopping there. Our in-house sustainability committee is constantly testing new ideas—from shredding inbound cardboard into void fill, to long-term goals like ISO environmental certification and aligning with the UN’s sustainability goals.
Sustainability here isn’t a side project. It’s baked into how we operate and it’s something our whole team believes in.
The Need for Eco-Friendly Packaging
Forget product manufacturing – the greatest share of greenhouse gas emissions in the eCommerce industry comes from the production of packaging for eCommerce orders, at 45%. Every year, 3 billion trees are pulped to produce 241 million tons of shipping boxes for packaging. And less than 14% of the 86 million tons of plastic packaging produced around the world is actually recycled, so it’s far from environmentally friendly.
Carbon Emissions from Shipping
On top of packaging, the need to ship orders is also a major contributor to the CO2 emissions generated by the eCommerce industry. Shipping and global eCommerce returns accounts for 37% of eCommerce greenhouse gas emissions. The rising demand for faster eCommerce deliveries requiring the use of air transportation to cover large distances in less time is pushing the share of logistics emissions even higher. By 2030, emissions for eCommerce businesses’ product deliveries are expected to increase by another 30%.
Consumer demand for sustainable fulfillment is growing
Sustainable, fair-trade, vegan, cruelty-free, durable, and environmentally-friendly products are becoming increasingly popular with eCommerce customers.
Research in 2018 found that products marketed as sustainable solutions sold for more compared to the category average. For example, in the study, sustainable chocolates had a 16% increase in sales, compared to only 5% for all other chocolates.
Moreover, 84% of customers said they would be more likely to make a purchase based on a brand’s positive sustainability practices. This might include eco-friendly materials for packaging, sustainable fulfillment partners, or a range of other factors.
In Ireland, 41% of shoppers said they are willing to pay a premium for more sustainable products, and 49% said they want to buy products with less packaging.
Another survey showed that 61% of consumers are happy to wait longer to receive an order delivery if they know it will be better for the environment, and 84% said they would be more likely to make a purchase based on a brand’s positive sustainability practices.
Sustainable packaging materials
We use biodegradable, paper-based, recyclable packaging when picking and packing orders, including paper void fill and paper tape. Our cardboard boxes have been produced with sustainable forest management practices that have been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). We also have processes in place to select the least amount of packing materials required – and all plastic and paper waste is segregated and recycled at our facilities.
Carbon-Neutral Fulfillment
Our 100,000 sq. ft. eCommerce fulfillment centre is lit by motion-sensing LED lights to reduce energy consumption. We plant trees to offset the carbon emissions produced from our packaging production, warehouse energy consumption, and even when our employees travel to and from our facilities.
Our partnership with Trees for the Future
Autofulfil has partnered with Trees for the Future to provide sustainable, carbon-neutral fulfillment and make a positive impact on the world with every order we fulfill.
Trees for the Future has planted 250 million trees around the world since 1989. In recent years, they have been focusing on training farmers in sub-Saharan Africa in agroforestry and sustainable land use, so that they can grow vibrant regional economies, thriving food systems, and a healthier planet with tree gardens.
In partnership with Trees for the Future, since 2022, we have helped:
- Plant 13,760 trees – offsetting 1,100,770 lbs of CO2 for significant carbon footprint reduction
- Produce 51,599 lbs of organic produce to feed families and generate income
- Restore 216,714 sq ft of land
- And we’re just getting started!
trees planted - offsetting 1,100,770 lbs of CO2
lbs of organic produce to feed families and generate income
sq ft of land restored
Ready to grow sustainably?
Request a call with our sales team today for an expert consultation and custom eCommerce fulfillment proposal based on your unique business needs. Get started in as little as a week!
