How to implement sustainable logistics this peak season

8 sustainable logistics practices to implement this peak season

1. Reduce waste with AI inventory management

Peak season is unpredictable – one minute you’re selling out, the next you’re swimming in unsold stock. 

That’s where AI-powered inventory management comes in. These smart systems use real-time data and predictive analytics to help you order more accurately, avoid overstocking, and reduce waste. Some even adjust your website pricing automatically to help clear slower-moving items before they pile up.

Still have leftovers after the rush? A well-timed Boxing Day flash sale can turn unsold stock into revenue – not landfill.

2. Switch to eco-friendly packaging

Start by prioritizing materials that are reusable, recyclable, or biodegradable. You could even explore some of the more creative options out there – from bamboo and mushrooms to seaweed-based wraps.

But it’s not just about what you use – it’s also how you use it. Oversized boxes take up unnecessary space, which means fewer packages per shipment and more trips on the road. Smarter sizing helps reduce waste and cut down on transport emissions.

3. Encourage recycling

It’s the season of excess – and that includes packaging. In America alone, people throw away 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year's than any other period³. It’s a wasteful time, but your business can play its part in a circular economy by prioritizing recycling throughout its supply chain. Use recyclable materials for your packaging, and incentivize customers to send their empty packaging back to you with a discount code for their next order – a strategy that will reflect well on your brand and earn you some extra sales.

4. Reduce your carbon emissions

DHL’s GoGreen Plus solution enables businesses to reduce the carbon emissions associated with their shipments through the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel – a biofuel that is produced from renewable sources such as vegetable oils, animal fats, waste products, and agricultural crops. It can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to fossil fuels. The service can be selected for individual shipments, making it a flexible option for SMEs and e-commerce businesses with smaller cargo loads.

5. Offer On-Demand Delivery  

An efficient last-mile delivery is a key part of a sustainable supply chain; after all, every failed delivery leads to a re-delivery attempt that increases transportation emissions (and costs your business money!) But with DHL’s On-Demand Delivery, your customers will be able to choose from a wide range of flexible delivery options – including choosing a specific delivery time (when they know they will be home), or opting to have the package left with a neighbor or at a parcel locker. A convenient delivery experience for customers that will increase your first-time delivery rate, too.

6. Introduce a reverse logistics strategy

Unfortunately, product returns are a big part of e-commerce. For more sustainable returns, you could consider a reverse logistics strategy, which promotes the recycling, reusing and repairing of returned products. This circular economy system will reduce excess inventory and storage space – both of which will save your business money – and, of course, lessen the amount of waste that ends up in landfill.

7. Shout about your sustainable logistics practices

Shoppers are thinking more carefully about what they buy – and who they buy it from. If your business offers more sustainable products or delivery options, make sure that’s front and center on your website. A homepage banner can spotlight your commitment, while a dedicated “sustainable gifts” tab helps customers find your eco-conscious or fair-trade products faster.

8. Give back

‘Tis the season of giving after all…Perhaps your business could donate a portion of holiday proceeds to an environmental scheme, or commit to plant a tree for every order received. It could also do something for the local community – small business Stand 4 Socks², for example, donates a pair of thick socks to a homeless person for every pair sold on its website.

With peak season underway, we know you probably have a million things on your to-do list. But with a DHL Express Business Account, you can leave the logistics to the experts. Fast, reliable, international shipping for your SME is one click away.