Five sustainable retail technology initiatives you need to know about

Covering the likes of payments, robot delivery and electric vehicles, these companies are at the forefront of the sustainability in retail movement.

1. Kazidomi

Kazidomi, an online retailer that sells healthy and organic foods, has deployed Adyen’s new Planet tool.

This lets Adyen’s merchants offer their shoppers the opportunity to offset the carbon footprint of their purchases at the end of the checkout process.

The feature, which can be implemented at no additional cost to the merchant, directly supports climate action projects (e.g. reforestation or renewable energy).

2. Starship Technologies

Starship Technologies says that its autonomous delivery numbers have quadrupled globally since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, and its eco-friendly service is now available to one million people

“This past year has been a game changer for autonomous delivery, moving adoption ahead by years,” says Ahti Heinla, Co-founder and CEO, Starship Technologies, which was named Startup of the Year at the 2019 RTIH Innovation Awards.

Today, we’re proud to announce Starship autonomous deliveries have quadrupled in the last year and our delivery service is now available to 1 million people globally. 🤖https://t.co/LDogoaqPYd #StarshipRobots pic.twitter.com/MLwxAQF9FN
— Starship Technologies (@StarshipRobots) May 13, 2021

3. Back Market

Back Market, an online marketplace dedicated to refurbished electronics, has announced a Series D round of £237 million led by General Atlantic.

This also had the support of Generation Investment Management, as well as existing investors Aglaé Ventures, Eurazeo, Goldman Sachs Growth Equity and daphni.

Launched in 2014, Back Market lays claim to nearly five million customers in the US, France, Germany, the UK, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, and more recently, Portugal, Japan, Finland and Ireland.

4. Costa Coffee

Costa Coffee has partnered with InstaVolt to install pay as you go electric vehicle chargers at up to 200 of the retailer’s drive-thru sites across the UK.

Charging speeds of 120kW will be offered, capable of adding 100 miles of range in 15 minutes.

The project builds on Costa Coffee’s existing network of 176 EV charging points at selected UK locations.

☕ BREAKING NEWS ☕
We’re thrilled to announce today that we’ve been brewing up a partnership with @CostaCoffee to provide rapid EV charging to up to 200 of their drive-thru sites across the UK!
Find out more: https://t.co/1sTQQYDWF3 #InstaWithCosta #InstaVolt #EVLife pic.twitter.com/L7ml4nho3F
— InstaVolt (@InstaVoltUK) May 17, 2021

5. ASKET

Swedish startup Returnado has launched a Returnado Rescue platform which will power ASKET’s new Revival Programme.

Co-developed with the sustainable menswear brand, this aims to help brands extend the lifecycle of their products and take a more circular approach to consumption.

Through a digital platform, brands can collect unwanted items long after the return period has passed, and, regardless of their condition, give them a new lease of life through resale, remanufacture and recycle.