Introduction: Addressing Environmental Concerns
In recent years, there has been a growing concern about our impact on the planet. According to Semrush’s Annual Global Topics Index, sustainability was the most searched social issue on Google in Spain in 2023, with an average of 604,856 monthly searches, maintaining its position from 2022 (440,093 searches). Additionally, searches related to sustainability and sustainable development increased by 125% that same year, with those related to corporate social responsibility (CSR) rising by 46.2%.
In a society increasingly aware of environmental conservation, companies must acknowledge their responsibility and work to reduce their negative impact on the planet through tangible actions, avoiding greenwashing at all costs.
In the realm of eCommerce, various measures can be taken to build a more ethical and responsible business model. From integrating sustainable practices in production to using eco-friendly packaging, partnering with local producers, avoiding single-use plastics, and promoting circularity. Today, we want to recognize some eCommerce platforms that, in various ways, have embraced sustainability in their operations.
17 Sustainable eCommerce Brands Leading the Way
“Sustainability isn’t the future; it’s the present. There’s hardly any room left for companies that disregard the planet and the path they’re leaving behind,” explained Maurici Badia, founder and Chief Culture Officer of Hannun, in 2020. Hannun is an eCommerce platform specializing in artisanal furniture crafted from sustainable, non-toxic, and recyclable materials. Since its establishment in 2018, Hannun has continued to evolve while maintaining its commitment to reducing its environmental footprint, exemplified by initiatives such as their Reuse Market program, which gives flawed products a second life.
Another player in this sector is Yeklan, a brand offering artisanal furniture and toys for children. Their mission focuses on supporting healthy and holistic development for children while caring for the planet. They use sustainable materials and 100% recyclable or reusable packaging. Moreover, their Yeklan Club subscription program allows members to exchange products as their child grows, promoting circularity.
Circular economy principles also underpin Allzone, a marketplace that, through its “Second Life” program, sells reconditioned tech products in its outlet, giving them a second chance. They also offer a Trade-In or Renting Plan, allowing customers to rent returned products. Utilizing existing resources is essential for planetary health, avoiding unnecessary overproduction and waste, a principle embraced by Bene Bono. This online food store rescues and sells weekly baskets of fruits and vegetables that would otherwise be discarded due to imperfections, while promoting fair pricing between suppliers and consumers.
Recognizing that beauty (and taste) lies within, Ametller Origen, a family-owned business selling sustainable food, refuses to discard products based on superficial defects. Operating only in Catalonia, they first request your postal code to determine if delivery is viable. They donate surplus products to social entities and employ agricultural practices with minimal environmental impact in their cultivation.
The origin and naturalness of ingredients are crucial, as demonstrated by Natulim, a brand offering ultra-concentrated detergent strips made from vegan, cruelty-free, hypoallergenic ingredients free of chlorine, dioxane, phosphates, and parabens. Their biodegradable packaging aligns with their product’s ethos, ensuring consistency in both the product and its wrapping. Washaby, another eco-friendly detergent brand, shares Natulim’s commitment, offering biodegradable capsules free of toxic elements, with packaging made from recycled cardboard. As stated on their website, “We’ve worked to ensure that washing doesn’t equate to polluting—polluting the planet, the seas, the rivers, your skin, the animals, and your clothes.”
As Washaby emphasizes, good products care for both the consumer and the planet, a philosophy embodied by Freshly Cosmetics, a digital-native brand of natural and sustainable cosmetics. According to María Borràs, former Marketing Manager at Freshly, “We aim to care for both our customers’ skin and the planet, following current ecological trends.”
In addition to Freshly, other beauty eCommerce platforms committed to the environment include Saigu Cosmetics, offering toxic-free and cruelty-free products with packaging made from 100% recycled and recyclable materials. They focus on what their products are rather than what they are not, emphasizing their genuine and enduring commitment.
British brand Lush also operates in the natural cosmetics vertical, with a line of products known as “naked,” sold without packaging, comprising 65% of their catalog. For packaged items, they use 100% recycled plastic, eco-friendly materials like potato starch ecoflo, or wrap them in biodegradable knot-wraps. This concern for the impact of their activities has been integral since their launch in the 1990s, as CEO Marc Constantine explains, “If Lush can do it, so can others, right? When I think back to animal testing, I remember sitting in my room pondering what seemed like a complicated idea—the ban on animal testing in cosmetics—and today it’s a reality in 40 countries. We’ve fought for years to end these tests.”
