Consumers prefer to buy from retailers and brands that are doing business in a sustainable way. Sixty nine percent of respondents to a global survey conducted by NielsenIQ said that sustainability has become more important to them over the last two years. And 4 out of 5 respondents indicated they would prefer to buy from a retailer that offers a wider assortment of sustainable options in store. The reason is two-fold: an increased awareness of climate change and the direct impact it may have on their personal well-being.
Consumers are well aware of their own contributions to a more sustainable world. The vast majority are over 25 years old and live in an urban environment. This group is also more responsive to innovative solutions in the store that contribute to making their shopping journeys more sustainable.
Replacing conventional paper-based receipts with digital receipts helps reduce the carbon footprint of the store. Digital receipts also lead to a better customer experience since all transactions are now stored digitally and can be viewed at any time, and if integrated with the customer loyalty program, they can also be used for omnichannel up- and cross-sell.
Offering electric vehicle EV charging to customers coming to your c-store or fuel station is another way that contributes to sustainability.
The adoption of EVs shifted from environmentally conscious early adopters to an early majority of more pragmatic consumers. As discussed in a recent article on PetrolPlaza, EVs will disrupt but not destroy! Though the monetization part will pose some challenges at the phase the e-mobility market is in, EVs are here to stay and will lead to profitable business models in the mid-long term, as explained by Robert Krause, head of EV charging at Diebold Nixdorf, in an interview with PetrolPlaza.
