A More Sustainable Side of Shopping

Feb. 21, 2014 – Reflecting on the 2013 holiday shopping season, it’s clear that U.S. consumers are shifting how and where they buy. According to comScore, online holiday season sales rose 10 percent from 2012, including an 18 percent increase in online spending on Cyber Monday and a 15 percent increase on Black Friday.

E-commerce is expected to continue flourishing, with mobile transactions accelerating and online retail sales projected to reach $434 billion over the next four years. Of course online shopping is convenient, but we are learning that consumers can also feel good about its big picture environmental impact. A Carnegie Mellon University study found that E-commerce is the less energy-consumptive option roughly 80 percent of the time, when compared with brick and mortar shopping.

As retailers expand their online capabilities, they should explore ways to promote the intrinsic environmental benefits of shopping online. Read the full story at the Retail Merchandiser blog.