Analysis of E-commerce Sustainability Strategies

This study analyzes and evaluates the current e-commerce sustainability strategies and their impact on the environment, society, and economy. It explores the integration of the three dimensions of sustainability in the e-commerce sector and the importance of collaboration among stakeholders. The study aims to provide insights for e-commerce companies to achieve sustainable practices.

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STUDENT’S NAME
COURSE
UNIVERSITY
DATE

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Table of Contents
Abstract......................................................................................................................................................2
Analysis and critical evaluation of current e-business strategy and activities......................................3
Introduction...............................................................................................................................................3
Conceptual framework..............................................................................................................................5
Research Methodology..............................................................................................................................5
E-Commerce development........................................................................................................................6
Working in partnership to obtain sustainable e-commerce...................................................................7
Benefits of the internet in the e-commerce sector...................................................................................8
Environmental, Social and Economic Sustainability, and E-Commerce.............................................12
The importance of the three dimensions of sustainability in E-commerce..........................................17
Conclusion................................................................................................................................................18
References................................................................................................................................................19

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Abstract
Studies show that environmental, economic, and social aspects are essential to any e-commerce
sector to both retailers and customers. However, the current internal revolution has facilitated the
development of online business all around the globe. Therefore, the sustainability of e-commerce
depends on three dimensions. According to studies, a sustainable E-commerce system enables
the consumers to do their shopping online, at any place and any hour of the day through safe
payment systems.

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Analysis and critical evaluation of current e-business strategy and activities.
Introduction
Current studies show that most people around the globe are taking advantage of an e-commerce
business. The e-commerce system has enabled various businesses to establish their brand. E-
commerce system has allowed the company to maintain stronger relationships with their
potential customers (Al Omoush, Al-Qirem, and Al Hawatmah, 2018). Also, it has enables
retailers and consumer to develop a different perspective of doing business. Additionally, it has
enabled most people from every corner of the world to buy products at their homes, offices, and
anywhere else through the internet. However, customers are now inquiring for a sustainable e-
commerce shopping system which has been attributed to the availability of a comparison of
prices before making the decisions in relation to purchasing. The success of E-Business has been
attributed to various sustainability strategies. Thus, the trade-off is very crucial, since they ensure
that the positive impacts exceed that negative impacts. However, many companies around the
globe are involved in e-commerce; thus, important strategies should be adopted to ensure that e-
commerce activities should not affect world sustainability. Lack of sustainable developments in
E-commerce leads to depletion of eco-system. This study is intended to ensure that a sustainable
e-commerce system in the three dimensions in Amazon online business. The study develops
questions such as how the three sustainable dimensions can be integrated to ensure sustainable E-
commerce system in todays and future generation.

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Therefore, to answer this question, collaboration with other stakeholders is essential. Firstly, a
case study involving the company is conducted to develop empirical data. According to the
study, integration is crucial in the three dimensions of sustainability. Secondly, companies
should take the tradeoff in various dimension to ensure sustainable e-commerce. Thus, the study
concludes that the three dimensions should be considered as a social element to achieve
sustainable e-commerce.
Conceptual framework
The report analyzes multiple trade-offs such as the social-economic, environmental
social, and economic environment. Thus, the trade-offs give an insight into a solution to
significant challenges affecting e-commerce, for instance, labor unrest, pollution, and production
cost(Müller, Kiel and Voigt, 2018). This report mainly aims at investigating possible methods of
integrating the three dimensions of e-commerce, which can ensure sustainability through the use
of various trade-offs. The trade-offs are beneficial to consumers’ retailers and consumers.

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How can an organization achieve sustainable E-Commerce in Environmental, Economic,
and social dimension through the use of positive trade-offs?
Research Methodology
According to Oláh et al. (2019), this study provides methodologies aimed at answering the
research question, how an organization can achieve sustainable E-Commerce in Environmental,
Economic, and social dimension through the use of positive trade-offs? Detailed research is
conducted to understand the basis of the question. The outcomes of the research are elaborated
through various and studies. Thus, the results of this research will assist the manager of e-
commerce companies in identifying better sustainable activities which aid in the positive
economic outcome.
The research report also gathers information from peer review articles, journals, research
papers, research reports, and conference papers to identify positive trade-offs and sustainable e-
commerce activities. The resulting outcome helps to analyze the three dimension of
sustainability in e-commerce sectors. Thus bring an overall result of a pure research paper.
Research Report on Sustainable E-commerce strategies

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E-Commerce development
The adoption of e-commerce and the improvement in technology is contributing to
significant changes in how the business is conducted (Shukla, Mohanty and Kumar, 2018). A
recent US survey shows that online sales have increased in recent time as compared to some
decades back. According to studies, the immense growth in the e-commerce business is highly
contributed by the use of the internet and an increase in the number of mobile subscribers. The
increasing number of smartphones users has highly facilitated the conduct of online marketing.
This is making it difficult for merchants to meet the consumer's demand, which keeps on
changing frequently. Also, it is challenging when some goods are returned to the supplies due to
failure to meet consumers’ expectations. Also, e-Commerce should adopt sustainable solutions to
curb these challenges.

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Working in partnership to obtain sustainable e-commerce
The collaboration of groups can reduce, cost of goods, operation cost, shipment cost, and
recycling. Moreover, stakeholders will gain more economic advantage. Additionally, the
adoption of proper packaging facilitates proper deliveries and reduces returns. These groups
include, manufacturing companies, retailers, logistics services providers, and the consumer must
work together to ensure sustainable e-commerce solutions, in packaging, manufacturing, and
reduction of shipments returns according to studies. This approach is essential in online business
since it forms the basis of green environment e-commerce. Thus, the customer will be
encouraged to pay a higher price on an e-business that supports a green environment. According
to studies, the use of proper packaging materials reduces the emission of harmful gases to the
environment, which encourages a friendly eco-system
All e-commerce organizations are dependent on the internet. Studies define the internet as the
intersections of various computers and devices on a network to facilitate transactions,
communication, transfer of funds, and other activities. Internet is the gateway of all online
businesses. Similar studies show that the internet came into existence in the year 1990s and was
used mainly by Amazon to sell goods online. Therefore, e-business is all about the electronic
transactions between various organizations and stakeholders. For instance, customers place
orders via the internet, and when such order is processed, the delivery is done through third
parties, for example, the logistics service providers.

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Benefits of the internet in the e-commerce sector.
It has facilitated buying and selling of products through many geographical locations as
long as a customer is connected to the internet
It has enhanced consumers to choose goods from a variety, making it cost effective. Social
networking has facilitated the customers to access all e-commerce services, the air there, and
getting immediate services by the various sales person in e-commerce platforms. It has also
facilitated interaction between customers and companies due to changes in demand.

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Trade-Offs and The dimensions of sustainability in E-commerce
Companies, the society, and consumers follow various sustainable regulations which are very
significant in the current world of e-business. They should take into account the currently
available, which can be very significant in both small and long-term business. They should also
take into account the currently available, which can be very significant in both small and long-
term business. However, scholars highlight that the companies, societies, consumers and logistic
service providers should collaborate and work together to realize significant sustainable
outcomes, which will facilitate overall social, financial, environment, and economic performance
However, scholars highlight that the companies, societies, consumers and logistic service
providers should collaborate and work together to realize significant sustainable outcomes,
which will facilitate overall social, financial, environment, and economic performance.
Therefore, there is a need for all e-commerce companies and the respective countries to merge
and come up with harmonious regulations that applies to the whole world. Also, various e-
commerce companies find it challenging to implement the same strategy in different countries
since each country has a set of different regulations
Suitable sustainability ensures continuous development and preservation of available resource
for future use. Therefore, to ensure sustainability in the e-commerce system, all three dimensions
should be put into practice. Companies should evaluate the sustainability of their actions
socially, economically, and environmentally. According to studies, sustainable developments
ensure that the impact of traders’ balances with the ecosystem ability to produce as well is
recovering.

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Sustainability in the e-commerce system can bring positive or negative impacts, however.
Suitable sustainability should be adopted for the positive effects on outweigh the negative
consequences. Positive sustainability enhances financial advantage and environmentally friendly,
sustainable activities. On the other hand, it can endanger the livelihood of people and facilitate
unfriendly eco-system. Therefore, better strategies should be adopted to deal with positive and
negative sustainability e-commerce (Khan, 2016). Typically, the sector is unable to accomplish
the goals as concerned due to lack of suitable information policies.
Techniques should be adopted in e-commerce centers to mitigate various trade-offs
which arise as a result of the implication of innovative technology in the e-business sectors. For
instance, creation of social assurance frameworks, creation of better business security, human
resource training, and protection plans might be significant actions in an effort in social trade-
offs that can enhance profitable e-commerce business and reduction of unemployment. This
approach enhances sustainable environmental activities which create a friendly ecosystem.
Retailers aim at generating profits and revenues; thus, they should utilize trade-offs in the
environment, society, and economy, which can contribute to more economic gain. Therefore, the
reports aim investigation of how different companies can integrate the three dimension, thus
benefitting the consumers, retailers, and the general environment

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Scholars argue that innovations arising from the latest technologies lead to efficiency in
the production process and the creation of employment opportunities. When the demand for such
goods increases, it leads to the creation of more employment opportunities since more goods
have to be produced to meet the current demand. Therefore, the new products are sold at a
cheaper cost through e-commerce, rising the demand. Some of the technological innovations
bring about problems; for instance, the high noise produced by machines in industries brings
about health problems. Therefore, a balance should be enhanced to ensure that the positive
impacts of technology outweigh the adverse effects.
Therefore, the government should collaborate with researchers, experts, and e-retailers to
implement the established policies at different levels thus suitable policies that support minimum
tradeoffs and more benefit in the economy, society, and environmental strategies should be
adopted. These policies should enhance transparency in e-commerce sectors while at the same
time, facilitate ecological degradation (Oliveira and Martins, 2010).

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Environmental, Social and Economic Sustainability, and E-Commerce
Sustainability awareness is very significant in e-commerce according to the studies. According to
studies, the growth of e-commerce in the world has to lead to an increase in the total number of
orders delivered, leading to high traffic congestions in various cities and high emission of
CO2.Therefore, all these aspects are linked to one another in the realization of sustainable e-
commerce (Shukla, Mohanty and Kumar, 2018). These are attributed by vehicles which are used
in the transportation of those orders from one place to another all around the globe. Studies show
that the e-commerce activities which are involved in the delivery of business to consumer goods
(B2C) are about 61% e-commerce shipments. The shipment has highly contributed to health
pollution through the emission of harmful gases such as CO2 in the environment. The pollution
profoundly affects the general environment and human beings leading to global warming and
breathing problems.

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However, major environmental concerns involve packaging materials, natural resources, water
pollutions, soil contamination, and carbon dioxide emission. Therefore, e-commerce companies
should ensure that their business activities should damage natural resources. They should instead
enhance environmental protection through the implementation of various ecological strategies.
The adoption of green environment and provision of green products facilitated sustainable e-
commerce to the consumers. Therefore, consumers can gain maximum satisfaction. Also, the e-
commerce that provided green products builds trust with their customers. Therefore, the e-
commerce sector should enhance sustainable environmental strategies which aid at advancing the
logistic service providers to use alternative methods of distribution, which is environmentally
friendly .Thus, companies should not only put their focus on short term goals but also, they
should emphasize long-term goals to facilitate customers satisfaction with the purchases sees
some value with their money (Kumar, 2015).
Thus, retailers should keep in touch with consumers to provide feedback when necessary.
Companies should produce quality products and service at a small cost and use adequate reusable
packaging facilities to avoid environmental pollution. Therefore, this approach will enhance
sustainable economic activities.

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Thus, companies should not only put their focus on short term goals, but also, they should
emphasize long-term goals to facilitate customer’s satisfaction with the purchases sees some
value with their money. Therefore, retailers should keep in touch with consumers to provide
feedback when necessary. Companies should produce quality products and service at a small cost
and use adequate reusable packaging facilities to avoid environmental pollution. Therefore, this
approach will enhance sustainable economic activities (Weisberg, Te'eni and Arman, 2011).
Authors define economy sustainability as the mechanisms through which e-commerce
organizations economizes on available resources, which make it possible to attain the maximum
amount of profit.
Authors argue that the success of e-commerce business is due to its low-cost, high sales,
efficiency, convenient methods encountered by consumers in online shopping. Also, e-commerce
has highly explored the social network, which has facilitated product promotion and awareness
to potential consumers (Berglund and Svanteson, 2018). All these activities have contributed to
immense economic growth, an increase in profit margins, and improvement in value-added
output, thus enhancing sustainable production (Berglund and Svanteson, 2018). Sustainable e-
commerce should be achieved in all dimensions. Therefore, various strategies such as better asset
utilization, control of administration cost, control of factors of production, and enhancement of
customer’s satisfaction should be adopted.

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According to Popescu (2015), social aspects include cultural development and human
needs. Social dimension concentrates on how the e-commerce impacts the consumers positively.
According to similar studies consumers requires, a green environment, better health, engaged
communities in the conduct of e-commerce activities to authors, human beings take various
actions to meet their needs which later destroys their future potential to obtain more
resources(Mahsud, Imanaka and Prussia, 2018). Entrepreneurial activities in the world contribute
to positive impacts on the current economies; they enhance suitable employment and promotes
innovation in various sectors (Belz and Binder, 2017). Thus, an online firm that undertakes e-
commerce activities should put into consideration the importance of human beings in social
dimensions.
However, e-commerce has contributed to the emergence of social innovations, such as better
communication and information technology. In the current world of technology, it has become
easy to transfer funds from one person to another through the internet, thus facilitating smooth
conduction of e-business (Torres, Lisboa and Yasin, 2011). Various e-commerce companies
utilize social media to promote, market and creates awareness of their brands across the globe
(Kurnia et al., 2015). Therefore, the buying and selling of goods have become accessible through
online transactions. Through the use of social media and other platforms, people can market and
sell their products quickly. On the other hand, consumers can satisfy their needs through a
variety of products online. Therefore, the e-commerce business is eliminating unemployment,
sustaining people lives, and reducing instances of poverty.

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Trade-offs are defined as the process through which parties’ benefits by utilizing their
potential to gain desired results by turning the negative impacts on positive impacts (Gružauskas,
Baskutis and Navickas, 2018). Authors argue that companies should assess their possibilities of
gaining maximum performance by taking the best trade-offs. However, the trade-offs should be
evaluated adequately (Sivapalan et al., 2014). Therefore, for any business to attain sustainability
in online business, they need to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses. Therefore trade-offs
might bear negative impacts on companies. The basis of suitable tradeoffs for any e-commerce
company is to come up with better decisions which are significant, taking into consideration the
three dimensions of sustainability (Terzi, 2011). Therefore, if the company can be able to attain
e-commerce sustainability; therefore, it will be deemed that the company has taken the best
trade-offs in the three dimensions of sustainability.

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The importance of the three dimensions of sustainability in E-commerce.
Thus, the study has examined the three dimensions of sustainability and showed how they could
be integrated to ensure sustainable e-commerce (van Hoek and Johnson, 2010). This is according
to the research; it is evident that e-commerce is getting more significant in the current economic
world. Better trade-offs should be taken to maximize sustainability Companies should aim at
coming up with better strategies to enhance their growth opportunities and maximize their output
(Nica and Potcovaru, 2015). Retailers should ensure that their website is protected and safe for
the well-being of their customers and maintain a long-term relationship with them. Additionally,
they should integrate the government in their discussion and significant decision making to
improve regulations and policies on sustainability in e-commerce-commerce has contributed to
the emergence of social innovations, such as better communication and information technology.
In the current world of technology, it has become easy to transfer funds from one person to
another through the internet, thus facilitating an easy conduction of e-business. Therefore, the
buying and selling of goods have become accessible through online transactions. Through the
use of social media and other platforms, people can market and sell their products quickly. On
the other hand, consumers can satisfy their needs through a variety of products online. Therefore,
the e-commerce business is eliminating unemployment, sustaining people lives, and reducing
instances of poverty.

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Conclusion
This study aimed to examine how the three dimensions of sustainability can be interrogated in e-
commerce business to make this sector more sustainable. According to the study, companies
should not only be concerned with economic gains but also, they should observe the impacts of
their business on social and environmental aspects. According to the discussion, E-commerce is
a significant element of competitiveness. E-commerce organization should deliver friendly
environmental activities and more sustainable items to their customers.
It is evident that e-commerce sectors will achieve financial benefits by enhancing friendly
eco-system and ensuring job security to their employees. However, they should make us of
economic motivating factors such as quality products, low costs, and economical transportation
charges. High sustainability can be achieved if stakeholders can be involved in decision making
and the process of sustainability. Involvement of stakeholders also, enhance the establishment of
better policies that promotes more sustainable e-commerce.
This study cast’s insight on appropriate trade-offs which are deemed essential in a sustainable e-
commerce business. It is very significant to academic researchers since it provides knowledge
based on the current literature. It also can assist various stakeholders in knowing how to combine
the three dimensions and attain suitable sustainability in e-commerce business.

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