3 Ways to Reduce Carbon Footprint via UX
Let's explore 3 simple and effective ways to save costs and reduce an excessive carbon footprint that occurs due to bad product design and poor returns-management by eCommerce businesses aka online shopping apps. Effective product design is a collaborative organisation strategy to address the user experience, the needs of the business as well as the needs of the community and the very planet we are thriving on this moment.
Sharing these thoughts from a designer and consumer lens that could help businesses contribute to safeguarding our planet. Well, every recommendation has its downside and one needs to weigh the ideas in the context of domain, market, business and users.
The idea of the Returns-Ratio label is to flash this on select product listings in online marketplaces. Ex: Only 3% returned this item. Lower returns, means higher purchase confidence for shoppers. For your reference, "Amazon Bestsellers" or "Amazon's Choice" are popular trust labels on Amazon's website or app. The proposed label in this context, could say "Least Returned" which implies more trust for the consumer. This in turn pushes the seller to work harder towards improving the quality of products to maintain this label on listings.
When a return is raised, brands could show the amount of carbon footprint that is generated by the user on a return trip. Take the user on a guilt trip for a good cause. (Google Flights uses this principle by showing emissions on every flight in the search results.) Google probably shows the emission numbers since its only an aggregator and not a ticketing agent nor an airline service. Unless its making money though affiliate sales, then the question of conflict and design morality comes into picture.
In a capitalist market, being proactively good, not just complaint good and not being evil, is the fundamental ethical conflict for every design, product and business leader.
Return on arrival could be applicable for certain products where users can check and return products at the time of delivery. This saves time and efforts to schedule another pick up. Works best for high value products where users can shop with confidence and sellers can push sales through this label. I'm no expert on reverse logistics, however, I think this could help in savings costs, mitigating scams and fraudulent claims.
Let's be ethical capitalists to the extent possible in our own capacities. Designers have a great responsibility to consider the impact of product design on this planet, as a priority.
We don't have a planet B.
Good design is purpose driven, planet considered, and human centered.
Sharing these thoughts from a designer and consumer lens that could help businesses contribute to safeguarding our planet. Well, every recommendation has its downside and one needs to weigh the ideas in the context of domain, market, business and users.
1. Return Ratio Label (Trust Label)
The idea of the Returns-Ratio label is to flash this on select product listings in online marketplaces. Ex: Only 3% returned this item. Lower returns, means higher purchase confidence for shoppers. For your reference, "Amazon Bestsellers" or "Amazon's Choice" are popular trust labels on Amazon's website or app. The proposed label in this context, could say "Least Returned" which implies more trust for the consumer. This in turn pushes the seller to work harder towards improving the quality of products to maintain this label on listings.
2. The Guilt Trip
When a return is raised, brands could show the amount of carbon footprint that is generated by the user on a return trip. Take the user on a guilt trip for a good cause. (Google Flights uses this principle by showing emissions on every flight in the search results.) Google probably shows the emission numbers since its only an aggregator and not a ticketing agent nor an airline service. Unless its making money though affiliate sales, then the question of conflict and design morality comes into picture.
In a capitalist market, being proactively good, not just complaint good and not being evil, is the fundamental ethical conflict for every design, product and business leader.
3. Return on Arrival (Trust Label)
Return on arrival could be applicable for certain products where users can check and return products at the time of delivery. This saves time and efforts to schedule another pick up. Works best for high value products where users can shop with confidence and sellers can push sales through this label. I'm no expert on reverse logistics, however, I think this could help in savings costs, mitigating scams and fraudulent claims.
Let's be ethical capitalists to the extent possible in our own capacities. Designers have a great responsibility to consider the impact of product design on this planet, as a priority.
We don't have a planet B.