Project Launch: Guidelines for Providing Product Sustainability Information in e-Commerce
The adaptation of the ‘Guidelines for Providing Product Sustainability Information’ to the e-commerce sector will offer shopping platforms with a tool to improve how product sustainability information is provided to consumers online.
The shift towards a more digital world, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, is inducing changes in online shopping behaviours that are likely to have lasting effects. With the continuous growth of e-commerce, the provision of reliable product sustainability information in an online setting becomes increasingly important. Even though some e-commerce platforms are starting to lessen their own environmental impact in terms of carbon efficient delivery solutions or innovative packaging, information on the sustainability of the products offered remains limited in quantity, and quality.
In response to this changing consumer purchasing reality, UNEP under the One Planet network Consumer Information Programme is taking up the principles of the Guidelines for Providing Product Sustainability Information (the Guidelines) and will develop e-commerce specific recommendations on how to improve online consumer communication on product sustainability.
The Guidelines, developed through a multi-stakeholder effort, include a comprehensive set of high-level principals for users to follow and guidance on how to apply them. They are a key resource for developed and developing countries, and companies of all sizes. The Guidelines and additional resources and information materials can be found on our Product Sustainability Information Hub.
adelphi, whose staff co-authored the Guidelines, will be the implementing partner for the new project which started off in March 2021. The aim is to apply the principles of the Guidelines to the e-commerce setting with a particular focus on business to consumer communication either directly by platform providers or through sellers offering products on e-commerce platforms.
“So far, most e-commerce platforms make it really difficult to identify sustainable product alternatives. Instead, consumers are required to do an extensive web research before they can order a fair t-shirt, a sustainable holiday trip or the next ethical lunch meal. We want to change this. With this new initiative we are able to support businesses with adequate solutions to provide consumers with the right information at the right time to do an informed choice during their customer journey. This will help to reduce barriers and make sustainable consumption in an online environment an easy option.”
Jan Christian Polanía Giese, adelphi
This project will provide actionable recommendations on how e-commerce platforms can best apply the Guidelines’ principles to improve product sustainability information provided to consumers online. The recommendations will be accompanied by inspiring case studies of good practice examples for an easier reference.
The project was kicked-off during the WG1: Guidelines for Providing Product Sustainability Information meeting on 20 April. It was an opportunity for group members to discover the timeline for the planned activities and to provide first feedback on stakeholders to engage with for its successful implementation.
Want to contribute to the new Guidelines for E-commerce Communication on Product Sustainability?
You are working for an e-commerce platform, or an organisation working on e-commerce communication or have other expertise around the online provision of product sustainability information and are interested in contributing to our work? Why not join our working group and have your say?
Please contact the Consumer Information Programme coordination desk via ciscp@un.org for more information!
