How to Run a Sustainable Online Frozen Food Business

Businesses need to do what they can to contribute to a healthy environment with sustainable practices. Not only can doing so help make less of an environmental impact, but it can also help boost your reputation among consumers and drive more sales in the long run.

If you’re wondering how to increase your frozen food business’s sustainability, here are some ideas to help make your business eco-friendlier.

Use Sustainable Packaging for Your Products

One of the most obvious ways to make your business more sustainable is your choice of packaging materials. Many buyers out there want to purchase products that use eco-friendly packaging, including food products. 

To minimize waste, consider implementing packaging that consists of biodegradable and recyclable materials. With biodegradable materials, your packaging will be able to break down in the environment over time when it reaches the end of its life. Meanwhile, people can recycle packaging made with certain plastics and other recyclable materials.

One company that’s worked to increase the sustainability of frozen food packaging is Associated Packaging Technologies, which has developed a recycled crystallized polyethylene terephthalate frozen food tray that consists of 30-40% post-consumer recycled content. Additionally, Sonoco Products offers a 100% sugarcane-based fiber bowl that can package frozen foods along with many other types of products.

When using these types of packaging solutions, be sure to let your customers know how to properly dispose of them. Indicate the steps that consumers need to follow to safely and responsibly recycle or dispose of cardboard, plastic, paper, and other materials to make sure your sustainability efforts are truly worthwhile.

Work to Minimize Your Business’s Carbon Footprint

Another step you should take is to offset your business’s carbon footprint, which begins with understanding the level of emissions your company produces. Consider which activities generate the highest levels of carbon dioxide. 

For example, if your business consists of a team of staff members who commute to an office every day, they may produce emissions on their commute. You may also rely on energy to power storage areas and refrigeration units for your products.

After identifying sources that contribute to a carbon footprint, you can begin determining how to reduce it. One way to do so would be to make a net zero commitment, which refers to the ability to achieve a balance between greenhouse gas emissions that your business produces and the gasses removed from the atmosphere. 

With a solid strategy in place, you can significantly reduce your carbon footprint and promote your sustainability efforts in your marketing.

Reduce Delivery Emissions

The delivery of your products also needs to be consistently efficient. You can achieve this by using 2 or more fulfillment centers closest to your customer base. This will not only keep emissions down, but if you get the majority or your orders to customers via 1-2 day ground service, you’ll save big on shipping costs as well. 

Depending on how you manage your eCommerce business, you can also use certain tools to help calculate emissions, enabling you to determine how to further reduce them. For example, Shopify offers an Offset app for its users along with a Shop Pay option. Combined, these two tools give businesses the ability to offer 100% carbon-neutral shipping options to customers.

The more transparency you have into your emissions, the more you’ll be able to work to cut down on them and keep your operations sustainable all the way to the moment your products reach your customers’ front doors.

Keep Your Business Sustainable to Connect with Consumers and Help the Environment

By implementing these sustainability practices in your frozen food business, you’ll be able to keep your business more environmentally friendly and become an industry leader. People who prioritize sustainability in their buying decisions will be more likely to purchase from you and become loyal customers as they experience peace of mind with your business. At the same time, you’ll be able to advertise these sustainability practices and encourage others in your industry to follow suit.

For more information about how to make your business sustainable and successful, consult with the experts at Gray Growth Logistics. We’ll help you secure the long-term success of your business as it grows.