Transportation has a problem with sustainability. According to the latest recent EPA figures, the sector accounted for roughly 30 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, more than any other industry. And, after a 15% reduction in emissions in 2020, transportation returned to 2019 levels in 2021, rising 10%, according to independent research firm Rhodium Group.
With sustainability at the forefront of consumer concerns, Ohi, a New York City-based instant commerce platform, announced a partnership with EcoCart, a sustainability technology firm, this week to enable a new, carbon-neutral e-commerce fulfillment option for Ohi partner brands and customers.
According to a recent survey performed by IBM in collaboration with the National Retail Federation, around four out of five consumers believe sustainability is essential, and 60 percent of respondents stated they would be prepared to adjust their buying habits to be more sustainable. Ohi is retooling its fast commerce system, which promises deliveries in under two hours, with the inclusion of carbon offsets via EcoCart’s patented technology in response to this type of data.
“Research shows that the vast majority of consumers prefer to do business with environmentally responsible firms wherever possible, and we’re fully devoted to assisting our merchant partners in reducing the environmental effect of their operations,” Ohi founder and CEO Ben Jones stated. “We’re excited to join with EcoCart to provide ecologically friendly, speedy delivery that benefits consumers, helps our brand partners build their companies while lowering their carbon footprint, and ultimately supports a healthy planet.”
When a consumer picks the carbon-neutral option at checkout, Ohi will use EcoCart’s software to automatically donate to an independently certified carbon-offsetting initiative. Customers do not have to pay anything extra for the new sustainable product while collaborating merchants can pay EcoCart a nominal fee based on the carbon impact of each delivery. According to Ohi’s release, the payments will go toward “a range of ecological programs around the world.”
“Through this integration, Ohi is empowering its brand partners with a win-win option that’s shown to facilitate deeper customer relationships and drive business results, while also helping to have a meaningful positive environmental impact by offsetting the unavoidable emissions of shipping their products,” said Peter Twomey, co-founder, and COO of EcoCart. We’re excited to collaborate with Ohi to provide a simple and easy solution for the company’s merchant network to sell more sustainably.”
