IMAT5211 Coursework Report: Achieving Sustainable E-Commerce System

This report examines the strategies for achieving sustainable e-commerce across environmental, economic, and social dimensions. It investigates how organizations can use positive trade-offs to foster sustainability within their e-commerce systems. The research methodology involves detailed analysis, literature reviews, and case studies. The report explores the integration of these three dimensions, highlighting the importance of collaboration among stakeholders such as manufacturers, retailers, logistics providers, and consumers. It addresses challenges like increased traffic, pollution, and the need for eco-friendly distribution methods. The report also explores how trade-offs can be utilized to balance the impacts of e-commerce, considering social, economic, and environmental factors. The report concludes with recommendations for sustainable e-commerce practices, including the adoption of eco-friendly features, proper packaging, and the need for harmonious regulations. The report also includes a discussion on the role of the internet and social networking in e-commerce.

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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
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? I 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
Abstract
The current internal revolution has facilitated the development of online business all
around the globe. However, studies show that environmental, economic, and social aspects are
essential to any e-commerce sector to both retailers and customers. Thus, 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. Therefore, this study is intended to ensure that a sustainable e-commerce
system in the three dimensions in Amazon online business.

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The study develops questions such as how the three sustainable dimensions can be
integrated to ensure sustainable E-commerce system in today's and future generation
(Mangiaracina at el.,2015, p.566). Thus, to answer this question, collaboration with other
stakeholders is essential. Various methodologies are adopted in this report to examines the
concept of sustainability in the three dimensions. 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. Therefore, the study concludes that the three dimensions
should be considered as a social element to achieve sustainable e-commerce.
Introduction
Current studies show that most people around the globe are taking advantage of an e-
commerce business (Laudon & Traver, 2016). However, there has customer has are now
inquiring for a sustainable e-commerce shopping system which has been attributed to the
availability of a wide range of products available and the need to make a comparison of prices.
The e-commerce system has enabled the business to establish a business brand. Moreover, e-
commerce system has allowed the company to maintain stronger relationships with their
potential customers. 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.
Also, the E-Business system has enabled buyers to compare prices and product from
various websites before making the ultimate decision on the desired outcome (Oliveira &
Martins, 2010, 1338). However, 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

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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. All, e-commerce companies and organization should take
a role action to preserve the environment. Lack of sustainable developments in E-commerce
leads to depletion of eco-system. Thus, companies should adopt environmental friendly feature
which does not affect the well-being of humankind.
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 (Einav, at el., 2014, p.490). 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.
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 (Pt, 2015). 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. Thus, the report will try to answer these questions in the context of results,
and recommendations:

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• How is it possible for an e-business to integrate the three dimensions of sustainability which
ensure the preservation of the ecosystem?
• Which trade-offs should companies adapt to facilitate sustainability in the three dimensions
of e-commerce?
• What recommendations should be highlighted to ensure sustainable e-commerce business?
Conceptual framework
This report mainly aims at investing 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. 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.
Development of E-Commerce
The adoption of e-commerce and the improvement in technology is contributing to
significant changes in how the business is conducted. 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 use internet and increase in
the number of mobile subscribers (Terzi, 2011, p.750). 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 consumer’s
expectations. Thus, e-commerce should adopt sustainable solutions to curb these challenges.

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Working in partnership to obtain sustainable e-commerce
According to studies, 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 (Torres, Lisboa & Yasin, 2011, p.44).
Therefore, the collaboration of these 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. 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 (Mikkonen &
Tenkanee, 2010, p.100).
Internet is the gateway of all online businesses. 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. 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.
According to the authors, the internet has become very beneficial in e-commerce by facilitating
the sale of goods and services online (Srinivasan & Shamos, 2010, p.465). It has facilitated
buying and selling of products through many geographical locations as long as a customer is

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connected to the internet. Also, 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. Additionally, it has facilitated interaction between customers and
companies due to changes in demand.
The dimensions of sustainability in E-commerce and Trade-Offs
The society, companies and consumers follow various sustainable regulations which are
very significant in the current world of e-business. Thus, stakeholders should take into
considerations the three dimension of sustainability when trying to identify the perception of
consumers on purchases. Also, they should 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 (Van & Johnson, 2010, p.150).
Consequently, there is a universal way of interrogating sustainable e-commerce to a
suitable business strategy. Thus the trade-offs find their way in. 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. 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. Sustainability is vital since it enhances various companies to retain
their customers and remain more competitive in the market place. Also, sustainability improves
operation performance, effectiveness, efficiency, low cost, and provision of less harmful product
to society (Kabanda & Brown, 2017, p.60).

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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. Also, 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.
However, sustainability in the e-commerce system can bring positive or negative impacts.
Thus, 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 the positive
and negative sustainability e-commerce. Typically, the sector is unable to accomplish the goals
as concerned due to lack of suitable information policies.
Several 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
(Weisberg, 2011, p.84). The approach enhances sustainable environmental activities which
create a friendly ecosystem.
Scholars argue that innovations arising from the latest technologies lead to efficiency in
the production process and the creation of employment opportunities. The new products are sold
at a cheaper cost through e-commerce, rising the demand. When the demand for such goods

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increases, it leads to the creation of more employment opportunities since more goods have to be
produced to meet the current demand. Subsequently, some of the technological innovations bring
about problems; for instance, the high noise produced by machines in industries brings about
health problems. Thus, a balance should be enhanced to ensure that the positive impacts of
technology outweigh the adverse effects.
Therefore, 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. Therefore, the government should collaborate with researchers, experts, and e-
retailers to implement the established policies at different levels.
E-Commerce and Environmental, Social and Economic Sustainability
According to studies, sustainability awareness is very significant in e-commerce
(Poescu,2015, p.82). Therefore, all these aspects are linked to one another in the realization of
sustainable e-commerce. 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.
Authors define economy sustainability as the mechanisms through which e-commerce
organizations economizes on available resources, which make it possible to attain the maximum

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amount of profit (Daunorene at el., 2015, p.840). Thus, companies should not only put their
focus on short term goals but also, they should emphasize long-term goals to facilitates
customers satisfaction with the purchases sees some value with their money. 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 effective reusable packaging
facilities to avoid environmental pollution. Therefore, this approach will enhance sustainable
economic activities.
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 (Gangeshwer,
2013, p.189). Also, e-commerce has highly explored the social network, which has facilitated
product promotion and awareness to potential consumers. All these activities have contributed to
immense economic growth, an increase in profit margins, improvement in value-added output,
thus enhancing sustainable production. Sustainable e-commerce should be achieved in all
dimensions. Therefore, various strategies such s better asset utilization, control of administration
cost, control of factors of production, and enhancement of customer’s satisfaction should be
adopted.
According to studies, social aspects include cultural development and human needs
(Lehman at el., 2013, p.1585) 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. Entrepreneurial activities in the world contribute to positive impacts on
the current economies; they enhance suitable employment and promotes innovation in various

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sectors. Therefore, an online firm that undertakes e-commerce activities should put into
consideration the importance of human beings in social dimensions.
Various e-commerce companies utilize social media to promote, market and creates
awareness of their brands across the globe (Sajid,2016). 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 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.
Authors define trade-off as the process through which parties benefits by utilizing their
potential to gain desired results by turning the negative impacts on positive impacts (Hahn, 2010,
p.220). Therefore, for any business to attain sustainability in online business, they need to
evaluate the strengths and weaknesses. 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. Otherwise, the 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 (Sivapalan at el., 2014, 182). Thus, 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
According to the research, it is evident that e-commerce is getting more significant in the
current economic world (Hilty & Aedischer, 2015). Thus, the study has examined the three
dimensions of sustainability and showed how they could be integrated to ensure sustainable e-
commerce. 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. Retailers should ensure that their website is protected and safe for the well being of their
customers and maintain a longterm 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.
Conclusion
According to the discussion, E-commerce is a significant element of competitiveness.
Therefore, 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. It is evident that e-
commerce sectors will achieve financial benefits by enhancing friendly eco-system and ensuring
job security to their employees.
E-commerce organization should deliver friendly environmental activities and more
sustainable items to their customers. 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

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of sustainability. Involvement of stakeholders also, enhance the establishment of better policies
that promotes more sustainable e-commerce.
This study is very significant to academic researchers since it provides knowledge based
on the current literature. Also, it can assist various stakeholders in knowing how to combine the
three dimensions and attain suitable sustainability in e-commerce business. Additionally, it casts
insight on appropriate trade-offs which are deemed essential in a sustainable e-commerce
business.

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