Dutch Consumers embrace online shopping but lack awareness on sustainability

A surprising finding is that only 17% of consumers believe online shopping is more sustainable than traditional brick-and-mortar stores. Marlene ten Ham, General Director at Thuiswinkel.org, pointed out that online shopping could indeed be more sustainable due to the efficiency of package delivery and the energy consumption of physical stores. She emphasized that the e-commerce sector still has work to do in making the entire supply chain more sustainable.

Sustainable

The report underscores the importance of collaboration between online retailers and consumers to improve sustainability. Consumers often cite packaging and delivery as key factors, but the most significant environmental impact comes from selecting the most sustainable products. Ten Ham highlighted the importance of clear communication from retailers to help consumers make informed choices.

Additionally, the study found that 40% of consumers mistakenly believe that pick-up points are always more sustainable than home delivery. Ten Ham clarified that this is only true when the pick-up point is accessed on foot or by bike. She stressed the need for the sector to inform consumers about the best practices for sustainable delivery.

Cardboard over plastic packaging

The report also revealed that 8 out of 10 consumers prefer cardboard over plastic packaging for environmental reasons. However, the choice between materials should depend on what’s most efficient for the product being shipped.

As online shopping continues to grow, it is crucial for both retailers and consumers to work together towards a more sustainable future. The findings of this study serve as a reminder that while progress has been made, there is still much to do in educating consumers and refining practices in the e-commerce industry.