Sendcloud research: UK online shoppers are going green

UK consumers are willing to compromise on online purchases and delivery demands, but only if it creates a more sustainable environment, according to research by Sendcloud.

The e-commerce shipping platform venture surveyed 1,000 people.

Two-thirds were willing to wait longer for online deliveries if it resulted in less CO2 emissions, while 61% already preferred to order locally in order to reduce their carbon footprint.

62% would opt for home delivery alternatives if the online retailer provided more info on its emissions. Seven out of ten believed there should be a trustmark or quality assurance for transparency in this area.

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64% would be willing to pick up a parcel themselves if it made the delivery process more sustainable, with one in five willing to walk up to 5km to collect parcels.

43% of consumers, meanwhile, felt guilty about the environment when ordering online, and 48% when purchasing items outside of Europe. 94% said sustainability was an important e-commerce factor to them.

“These findings show that consumers understand the environmental impact of their purchases, and are willing to take drastic steps in order to create a more sustainable industry,” says Rob van den Heuvel, CEO and Co-founder at Sendcloud.

He adds: “Although there is still a lot of work to be done, we are slowly but surely going green.”

“Deliveries by electric vehicles and bicycles are taking place in parts of the UK now, and technology that provides consumers with exact times of delivery and more flexible options is almost commonplace.”

“By clearly communicating the environmental impact of delivery options in the checkout, retailers can give consumers the final push to choose green over fast and free delivery.”