Data from Australia Post’s latest Inside Australian Online Shopping e-commerce report has found three-in-five people said they would be willing to pay an average of $1.51 more on their online purchases. Overall, 55 per cent of people listed sustainable packaging as an important factor in their decision making.And 25 per cent of online shoppers are also now choosing to buy from one brand over another because of its ethics and sustainability practices. Those aged 18-24 are three-and-a-half times more likely to have made this decision than those aged over 60. For those shopping sustainably, more than 50 per cent said they had most recently done this when a brand’s product was perceived to be more environmentally friendly or ethically sourced. “It’s clear sustainability is becoming an increasingly important factor in purchasing decisions, and this is something retailers should be thinking carefully about,” it stated. It comes as Australia Post also found that 75 per cent of online shopping related packaging is cardboard boxes or plastic satchels. post poll While boxes are being recycled by shoppers, only 11 per cent of satchels are being properly recycled in soft plastics recycling bins. The interest in sustainable packaging comes as online shopping growth has seen a 26.9 per cent increase year-on-year. The week leading up to August 21 was the largest online shopping week in 2021 to date. NSW shoppers made 41.7 per cent of all purchases, buying 1.7 times more than the same week last year.Stay-at-home orders have also pushed national online purchases up 12.6 per cent year-on-year.As Victoria’s lockdown was extended, online shopping grew 14.5 per cent in the week leading up to August 21. Sustainable Australian activewear label Dharma Bums CEO Debbie Lawson said she has seen a rise in online sales during the pandemic. Seventy per cent of her clothing collection is made from recycled fibres.Her garments which are sold in Australia, South-East Asia and the Middle East come in packaging made from corn starch which is compostable at home. They also come with recyclable swing tags and a postage label made from recycled paper. “We actually source our product from Taiwan because it is really one of the leading countries in making sure that recycled PET water bottles can be used and made into garments,” she said.“There are a lot of claims that garments are made from recycled bottles but not consumer bottles.“We went through a government certified company in Taiwan to get a recycled yarn. We also use a lot of sustainable, plant-based fibres in our collection.”Ms Lawson, who has worked in buying and merchandising for UK department store Tesco and Big W in Australia, said while people may be willing to pay more for sustainable packaging, she does not pass this on to them.“We just work on lower margins, our post charges are what Australia Post or DHL Express charge us, we don’t (add a) levy on as we don’t think that’s fair,” she said. “We don’t want our sustainable, recycled product to be out of reach for people, we are not a discount retailer like Target which mass produces.“But we are not as expensive as Lululemon. There are not big overheads passed on.”“Any retailer needs to realise wellness, wellbeing practices and the future of the planet are at the forefront of people’s minds, there is no excuse for any business not to be producing in an ethical manner.”
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