Only a few eco-friendly eCommerce shops exist because it’s hard to find sustainable dropshipping goods. Suppliers prioritize cheap, trendy items over environmentally safe ones. With the higher cost of raw goods, slower manufacturing, and smaller market size, mass-produced goods often bring in more money.
If you’re set on building an eco-friendly dropshipping store, create a detailed product sourcing strategy first. Otherwise, you’ll waste time talking to suppliers who can’t meet your demands. To jumpstart your research, let’s go through the definition of “sustainable products” in eCommerce, where to find them, and how to sell them for a good profit.
How to Find Sustainable, Eco-Friendly Dropshipping Suppliers From China
With dozens of dropshipping suppliers online, newbies might not know where to start looking. Many find the options overwhelming. Streamline the process with these tips the next time you’re looking for suppliers.
Study What “Sustainable” Means in Your Niche
Before anything else, identify what being a sustainable brand means in your niche. There are several nuances across industries. Let’s take cosmetics and clothing shops as examples. You can call yourself a sustainable cosmetics shop if you sell organic brands that don’t test on animals. Meanwhile, clothing shops are more focused on providing fast fashion alternatives.
Also, study your eco-friendly rivals for accurate insights. Their products, ad campaigns, and branding will give real-world data on your industry’s sustainability needs. Mimic strategies that work and improve those that don’t.
Test Sample Products Before Going All In
It’s crucial for dropshippers to order samples during the testing phase. Check products yourself and see if they’re up to your standards—don’t just rely on reviews and promotions. Once you give the signal, suppliers will fulfill orders automatically, and you won’t have any chances to do QA checks.
Please note that most brands charge for their testers. Even small handling fees could rack up thousands of dollars if you try multiple items. To minimize your spending, try getting free samples first. Brands might take your request if you prove you’re a legitimate eCommerce shop.
Look For Certified and Registered Suppliers
Dropshippers have little control over their supplier’s QA routine. You can only test samples, not orders that go straight to customers. Suppliers are in charge of enforcing QA protocols.
That said, end customers will still hold you responsible for any issues with their orders. As far as they’re concerned, their transaction is with your brand. And blaming defects on suppliers will look irresponsible.
Apart from testing product samples, go through your suppliers’ list of product certifications. QA managers follow specific regulations. Look for documents requiring them to uphold the same level of quality across all products they produce.
Communicate Your Goals With Prospective Suppliers
Be upfront about your sustainability goals. Tell suppliers you need a like-minded partner to help you build an eco-friendly brand. If they qualify, they’ll likely show all the documents you need. Alternatively, brands focused on mass production might admit right away that sustainability isn’t their priority.
The key to effective negotiation is clear communication. You can partner with overseas brands, but ideally, they should speak the same language as you. Language barriers will make deals more challenging. There are subtleties and contextual references that even sophisticated AI translators get wrong.
Read Reviews Online
Look for unbiased reviews online. Brands filter the data they present in ad campaigns—you might get disappointed if you blindly trust their claims. Always do your own research. Read relevant posts on online forums, independent blogs, and social media sites.
Let’s say you’re selling luxury mattresses. After browsing brand catalogs, read review sites discussing these brands and their features. Research potential listings thoroughly before ordering testers.
Check the Brand’s Packaging Process
Check the boxes and wrappers that suppliers use. Eco-friendly packaging consists of biodegradable materials, not cheap plastic items that take centuries to decompose. Trash production is a growing global issue. And as an eco-friendly brand, you should cut the waste you produce.
Focus on a Sustainable Niche
It’s harder to create eco-friendly brands in niches that perpetuate throwaway lifestyles. Take fashion as an example. Fast-paced, ever-changing trends create an imaginary need for shoppers to update their wardrobes. They prioritize aesthetics over function and utility.
To boost your chances of success, study dropshipping niches that support sustainable practices. Let’s take cosmetics as an example. You can focus on selling organic, long-lasting items made from natural raw materials.
How To Narrow Down Your Sustainable Suppliers
There’s really no shortage of eco-friendly product suppliers if you know where to look. You might even end up with several strong prospects. However, trying sample products from too many suppliers will drain your resources. We suggest cutting down your options to the most sustainable and reliable brands. Use the following factors as criteria:
Carbon Footprint
Carbon footprint refers to the amount of greenhouse gasses an entity emits. Everything, from global corporations to individual humans, produces harmful gasses through random actions. Take your everyday lifestyle as an example. Whether you’re walking, eating, or commuting, you’re releasing carbon emissions.
The same rule applies to corporations like dropshipping suppliers. While they all produce various gasses, some have a much smaller carbon footprint. For instance, mass production lowers costs. But it also requires more natural resources, manpower, and non-renewable energy sources.
For a supplier to be sustainable, it must prioritize carbon footprint reduction over mass production. Try going for brands that manufacture in batches. The more mindful they are about the resources they consume daily, the better.
Social Contribution
Sustainable, eco-friendly companies work toward a long-term vision. Their products, ads, and branding focus on leaving a positive social impact. They don’t have to be non-profit, of course. But ideally, they should at least pledge a portion of their earnings toward a cause. For instance, a PWD-friendly business could fund seminars about claiming social security benefits.
All sustainable brands likely have a social mission. We encourage you to go past their claims and assess which ones are committed to their cause. Any business can say they’re eco-friendly and organic. Research their company history for actual instances of them striving to achieve their goals.
Manufacturing Process
Ask about your prospective supplier’s manufacturing process. An overview will tell you where they source raw materials and how much goods they produce. Suppliers working en masse generally emit more carbon gasses. If you want an eco-friendly brand, go for ones that limit themselves to controlled batches.
Also, please don’t take claims as is. It’s impossible to visit warehouses across the globe, but you can read relevant reviews from other clients. See what they say about your prospective brands. You should be on the right track if you stay away from controversial brands shrouded in rumors.
Brand Reputation
Stick to trusted, sustainable brands that specialize in your industry. Developing eco-friendly alternatives isn’t a simple task. Manufacturers need in-depth industry knowledge to maintain product quality while reducing carbon emissions. Haphazard production only creates subpar output.
If you’re unfamiliar with the industry leaders, hire dropshipping sourcing agents instead. They can guide you through your options. Share with them your exact goals so that they can help you find the perfect supplier fast.
Disposal Systems
See how your prospective suppliers manage their waste. It might take some extra digging, but most sustainable brands won’t hesitate to respond. They probably even pride themselves on it. Green waste disposal costs much more than traditional methods, so they have no reason to hide it.
You could also read up on foreign waste management laws. See if your prospect follows their local guidelines and holds the required certifications. You’ll find this data on official government sites.
Selling Your Sustainable Products
Although arduous, finding a suitable supplier is merely the first step—you have to sell them before making real profits. Your business will go under if you overinvest in dead stock.
Again, eco-friendly goods cost more than mass-produced ones, so adjust your sales model. Copying popular retail brands within your niche yields negligible results.
Ideally, your working capital should have enough leeway for trial and error. Never dump your entire overhead on your one batch of sustainable products because they might not give you a return on your investment. eCommerce shops rarely find their winning dropshipping products right from the get-go. Hoping your shop skyrockets after uploading a few listings is wishful thinking.
Working With Sustainable, Eco-Friendly Dropshipping Suppliers
Whether you’re dropshipping eco-friendly items or rebranding white-label goods, study your supplier. Don’t jump at the first offer that comes your way. Take time to meet your prospects, test their products, and see if you’ll get long-term support. Remember: the quality of your products will make or break your dropshipping store.
That said, we also understand how hectic it is to run a business. Instead of rushing product sourcing, offload it to the professionals at Leeline Sourcing. It’s a trusted company that offers various dropshipping services, including product sourcing. They can help you find a reliable, eco-friendly partner supplier fast.
