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Selling Eco-Friendly Clothes Online
Submitted By: Tiffani Neal (info@82ndandzeal.com)

Challenge
82nd and Zeal is a locally run online retailer of inspirational, fair-trade and environmentally friendly clothing, which is produced from fabrics such as organic cotton.

Zeal Home Page
Benefits of eco friendly clothing are quite the same as organic foods. Clothing made from organic fabrics are free of toxins and pesticides which are harmful to our bodies and the environment. Many eco clothing brands are also produced locally which reduces the carbon foot print from warehouse to store front.

According to Tiffani Neal, the owner, the product itself is only part of the puzzle. Their customers are also starting to care about the whole process of producing and shipping clothes. So, the challenge is how to make their business operations as green as their clothes.

 

Solution Details
Some of the steps that 82nd and Zeal has taken so far to reduce the environmental impact of their operations:

1. Reducing Carbon Foot Print
When possible 82nd and Zeal works with vendors who are able to drop ship product . Typically a vendor ships to an online retailer, the online retailer then ships to the customer. 82nd and Zeal reduces our carbon footprint by using drop ship when available. By using the drop ship method products ship from the vendor directly to the customer. This helps to lower our carbon foot print.

2. Protecting the Environment
Affiliated clothing brand Kate Organic plants a tree for every garment sold. Planting trees protects the environment and helps to preserve traditional livelihoods and cultures for generations.

3. Recycling
We use recycled packaging and recycable packaging to ship our products. Recycled packaging is either made of recycled and/or recyclable materials. When possible we reuse packaging (packaging from previous orders, returns etc...). Example if 82nd and zeal receives a package we do not throw the packaging material away but we instead reuse. Using recycled packaging helps to eliminate unnecessary paper and material waste. Recycled packaging also saves money in the long run; customers also appreciate the gesture when receiving their packages.

4. Reducing Energy
Running an on line business has proved to be very energy efficient we use less electricity to run our operation than a traditional retailer. Not only are we saving energy but also saving on our energy bill.

Benefits & Payback

  • Less energy used
  • Lower monthly energy bills
  • Lower cost for shipping and mailing supplies
  • Taking a step toward protecting the environment

Informational Links

82nd & Zeal Web Site: http://www.82ndandzeal.com/

Treehugger.com - Benefits of organic vs. conventional cotton


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