A bit of a curveball from our usual blog topics, but an increasingly important aspect of ecommerce and brand identity. Consider your brand values and how you’re demonstrating these through tangible action. Younger generations care deeply about the way a brand treats its people and the planet – great ESG is so much more than a box ticking exercise. Here are some ideas to help you communicate your values to your customers. It will have an increasingly big impact on the way that they experience and enjoy shopping with you.
Get Transparent
Honesty is the best policy. While many brands have made exaggerated claims in the past (or seen sustainability as something that can be achieved with a few token gestures) this strategy will no longer wash with a consumer base that’s been made cynical by years of greenwashing. Be clear about your actions, and be honest about the areas in which you are still hoping to improve. Back up all claims with clear statistics and be humble when it comes to acknowledging room for improvement.
Supply Chain Matters
Increasingly, consumers see your brand in a broader context. No one is going to be impressed about plastic-free packaging if they learn that your apparel is produced in unethical conditions. Supply chain is a huge part of ESG, so select your partners carefully and again, be transparent about who you work with and why.
Stick with Shopify for a Greener Ecommerce Solution
Shopify has made strong commitments to sustainability, actively investing in carbon-neutral hosting, carbon removal initiatives, and emissions offsets, making it a greener choice for ecommerce businesses:
Carbon-Neutral Hosting: Shopify ensures that all its hosted stores operate on 100% renewable energy, effectively offsetting the digital footprint of online businesses.
Shopify Sustainability Fund: The company invests a minimum of $5 million annually into its Sustainability Fund, supporting innovative carbon removal technologies and projects aimed at combating climate change.
Shop Pay’s Carbon Offset Shipping: Through the Shop Pay checkout option, Shopify offsets the carbon emissions for every order shipped, thereby reducing the environmental impact of deliveries.
By choosing Shopify as your ecommerce platform, you can operate your store with confidence, knowing it’s hosted in a carbon-neutral environment and supported by a company actively investing in sustainable practices.
Sustainable Communication
Another aspect of sustainability that often gets overlooked is how brands communicate with customers. By optimizing your email notifications, you can reduce reliance on printed receipts, invoices, and order updates while ensuring customers still receive all the information they need. Well-designed, branded emails enhance the customer experience without unnecessary waste.
A professional, well-branded store isn’t just about great design—it’s also about how you present yourself in every customer interaction. If you're looking for more ways to improve your store’s professionalism, check out our tips on making your Shopify store look more professional.
Shopify’s default emails are functional but lack branding and customization. OrderlyEmails allows you to create professional, on-brand notification emails that ensure customers receive clear updates while reinforcing your brand identity—all in a digital, eco-friendly way.
Learn how to upgrade your Shopify emails with OrderlyEmails
