Sustainable shipping practices are vital to securing procurement contracts at the world's largest retailers, including Wal-Mart and Home Depot. They also appeal to a key group of consumers who demand green behavior from business. Green shipping doesn't have to be hard. In fact, there are simple things you can do to make your shipping operations truly green, earning more profit at the same time.

One of those, transportation-related packaging, is emerging as an important customer issue, both in terms of compliance and brand experience. This is especially true for internet retailers because consumers' first impression of their products is quite literally the box they arrive in.

Sustainable packaging is about much more than picking the right paper - although using post-consumer recycled materials and unbleached paper is critical. To be truly green, packaging must be durable. Damaged goods frustrate the recipient, put a dent in sales and force companies to reship a product, which can double the carbon footprint associated with an order.

Size also matters when it comes to packaging. But perhaps most important to prospective customers is using packing and shipping materials that meet independent environmental standards.

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