transport routes.
Carrier, service level and transport route should match the actual urgency and the respective target market.
Sustainable international shipping
Sustainable international shipping – without losing efficiency
Sustainable shipping doesn't begin with CO₂ compensation. Significant progress can be made through improved shipping processes: choosing suitable carriers and services, avoiding unnecessary express shipments, automating data, and reducing returns.
- Make a meaningful comparison of carriers and services
- Reduce returns and incorrect deliveries
- Digitizing shipping and customs data
- Use Economy and Express services strategically
Sustainability in shipping
The greatest leverage lies in the process.
Choose a carrier wisely
Not every route requires the same carrier or service.
Avoid additional transport
Clean data can reduce misdeliveries and returns.
Preparing for customs processes
Fewer operational errors and fewer delays.
Reduce returns
Every avoided return avoids additional transport.
Multi-carrier
Compare services
220+ countries
International shipping
Digital
Data & Documents
DDP & DAP
Control delivery strategy
Understanding sustainability correctly
What does sustainable international shipping mean?
Sustainable shipping means planning transport and processes in such a way as to minimize avoidable emissions, resource consumption, incorrect deliveries and returns.
process quality
Complete address, shipping and customs data reduces errors, delays and unnecessary operational loops.
Returns
Fewer returns mean fewer additional transport routes and less reprocessing.
Digitalization
Automated data and digital documents reduce manual input and improve process quality.
Sustainability is more than compensation.
Compensation programs can be a supplementary measure. However, first, avoidable transports, unnecessary service upgrades, and process errors should be reduced.
Reduce emissions in shipping
The biggest levers in international shipping
Anyone who wants to ship internationally sustainably should first consider the decisions that are made daily: Which carrier? Which service? Which delivery logic? What data quality?
Especially with high shipping volumes, small improvements in the process can have a greater effect than individual symbolic measures.
01
Choose the appropriate service level
Not every order is time-critical. Economy or standard services can be sufficient for many shipments.
02
Select carrier based on target market
Delivery network, transit time and service quality vary depending on the country and region.
03
Group shipments effectively
Planned shipping waves can help avoid unnecessary individual processes and operational peaks.
04
Automating data
Fewer manual entries mean fewer transmission errors during shipping and customs.
Shipping speed
Economy or Express: Choose your speed consciously
The fastest service isn't automatically the best choice. Likewise, an economy service isn't always the most sustainable solution. Crucial factors include the route, mode of transport, capacity, network, and actual urgency.
Economy
Useful for less time-critical shipments, where a longer transit time is acceptable for the recipient and business model.
Express
For time-critical goods, spare parts, or binding delivery dates, express shipping may be the necessary shipping option.
Dynamic selection
Instead of using one service for all shipments, carriers and service levels can be selected to match the order.
Avoid returns
Returns are an important lever for sustainability.
International returns cause additional transport routes, reprocessing, and often further customs procedures. Therefore, sustainable shipping should begin even before the initial delivery.
If the recipient unexpectedly has to pay fees, this can reduce their willingness to accept the item and cause returns.
Incomplete addresses, imprecise product descriptions, or incorrect customs data can complicate delivery and clearance.
Tracking and clear information on delivery status and import costs support a smoother delivery process.
Delivery strategy
DDP and DAP: Transparently managing import costs
DDP is not automatically more "sustainable" than DAP. However, a transparent delivery strategy can reduce surprises for the recipient and thus help prevent avoidable refusals of acceptance and returns.
Clarify costs before delivery
With DDP settlement, the relevant import costs are not unexpectedly due at the recipient's premises.
- Greater cost transparency for recipients
- Fewer surprises during delivery
- Can reduce acceptance refusals
- Good for predictable cross-border processes
Import costs payable to the recipient
Under DAP (Delivered on Place), the recipient typically bears the import duties. This can still be advantageous for certain business models.
- Flexible delivery terms
- Recipient bears import costs
- Clear prior communication is especially important.
- Suitable depending on customer and market structure
Digital processes
Fewer errors through automated shipping data
Sustainability in shipping is closely linked to process quality. Automatic transfer of address, order, shipping, and customs data between the shop, ERP system, and shipping platform reduces manual effort.
At the same time, a uniform database reduces the risk of transmission errors that can lead to queries, delays or retransmissions.
✓
Import order data
Do not enter addresses and shipment information manually multiple times.
✓
Structuring customs data
Process product description, customs tariff number and values consistently.
✓
Create labels digitally
Integrate carrier and service selection with the shipping process.
✓
Play back tracking
Shipping status is transferred in a structured manner to connected systems.
Multi-carrier strategy
Sustainable shipping starts with the right choice.
Carriers and shipping services should not be chosen solely based on price. The target market, transit time, delivery probability, and the specific requirements of the shipment also play a role.
Postal services
For light and less time-critical shipments, postal solutions can be a sensible alternative.
Economy Services
For scheduled deliveries where maximum speed is not required.
Express Services
Deploy it where delivery time and time criticality actually necessitate faster service.
Local strength
Depending on the target market, different carriers can offer advantages in terms of delivery and network structure.
Service quality
A successful first delivery helps to avoid additional delivery attempts and return shipments.
Transparent Comparison
Multiple shipping options allow for a conscious decision instead of a rigid standard service.
DHL
DHL Express
UPS
FedEx
DPD
Austrian Post
DSV
trans-o-flex
Implementation
Building a sustainable shipping system in four steps
Sustainability doesn't have to be treated as a separate logistics project. Many measures can be integrated directly into the existing shipping process.
1
Analyze shipping data
Consider target markets, carriers, transit times, express share and returns.
2
Services differentiate
Use Economy, Standard and Express according to the order.
3
Automate processes
Digitally connect shop, shipping and customs data.
4
review results
Regularly evaluate returns, delivery quality, transit time and shipping structure.
Suitable solutions
Combining sustainability with shipping processes
The greatest improvements come from considering carrier selection, customs, returns, and system integration together.
Frequently asked questions
FAQ on sustainable international shipping
Answers to questions about sustainable shipping processes, carrier selection, returns, DDP and CO₂ reduction in international shipping.
What is sustainable shipping?
Sustainable shipping aims to reduce avoidable emissions and resource consumption through more efficient transport and process decisions. This includes, among other things, selecting suitable carriers, appropriate service levels, fewer returns, and high data quality.
How can I ship internationally more sustainably?
Key starting points include selecting a suitable shipping service, reducing unnecessary express shipments, avoiding returns, and automating shipping and customs processes.
Is Economy always more sustainable than Express?
No. The environmental impact depends on factors such as the mode of transport, route, capacity, and network. However, a faster service should only be chosen if the additional speed is actually needed.
What role do returns play?
Returns cause additional transport routes, processing, and, in the case of international shipments, sometimes further customs procedures. Avoiding them is therefore an important approach.
Is DDP more sustainable than DAP?
Not necessarily. However, DDP can create greater cost transparency and thereby help avoid refusals of acceptance due to unexpected import duties. This, in turn, can prevent additional return shipments.
Is CO₂ compensation sufficient for sustainable shipping?
Compensation can be a supplementary measure. However, it does not replace the optimization of transport routes, carrier selection, return rates, and shipping processes.
How do digital shipping processes help?
Automated data transfer reduces manual input and thus the risk of errors in addresses, product information, labels and customs documents.
Can sustainable shipping also reduce costs?
Yes, process optimization can simultaneously bring economic benefits. Fewer returns, a suitable service selection, and fewer manual errors can reduce unnecessary shipping costs.
Optimize shipping strategy
Sustainable shipping starts with better choices
Compare carriers, select the right service, automate shipping data and reduce avoidable returns – all in one structured shipping process.