Sustainable delivery options are a significant contributing factor in consumers’ shopping choices, with one in four (25%) prepared to actively switch retailers if this isn’t on offer, according to new research.
The survey from last-mile delivery platform Stuart found while cost remains the priority for most shoppers, over a quarter (27%) of UK customers would be happy to pay extra for eco-friendly deliveries.
Bucking the trend of consumers demanding ever-faster drop-offs, many (41%) are also willing to wait longer for a sustainable delivery. When it comes to clothes or fashion items, consumers (42%) would be prepared to wait as much as a couple of days. Meanwhile, over half (53%) of consumers would happily wait an extra 10 minutes or more for their takeaway orders.
Consumers also expressed an interest in carbon offsetting their delivery emissions (67%) and circular economy principles, including using delivery services that collect returnable/reusable products, containers, and packaging (81%). Notably, only 7% of those polled said that environmental issues were not an important factor in their purchasing habits.
The release of this research comes at a pivotal moment for retailers, right before peak holiday shopping season. Additionally, the latest data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) has shown retail sales are at the lowest level since February 2021, when Covid restrictions remained in place. As businesses compete for sales in this competitive landscape, a commitment to environmentally friendly deliveries could be a deciding factor for ethically-minded buyers. As such, companies that promote their sustainable practices may gain an advantage in attracting and retaining environmentally conscious consumers.
Cornelia Raportaru, CEO of Stuart, said: “Our research shows that, despite the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, sustainability remains an influential factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions. It’s clear that they care about their carbon footprint, so if businesses want to maintain that competitive edge, they too must care. Our goal is to empower them to meet this consumer demand for sustainable delivery, and these insights will help us to develop new solutions for our partners.”
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