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Sustainable web design tips for online stores

Sustainable web design - 10 tips for environmentally friendly websites and online stores

Do you want to sustainable web design and a contemporary one, Environmentally friendly website build up? That's a really good decision! On the one hand, because you can make your internet presence or your online store more sustainable quite easily - and on the other hand, because in times of the Climate change and increasing digitalization is simply incredibly important for our environment. Because the internet is not just there - it only works through the use of vast amounts of energy.

So in this article, I want to share with you some tips and ideas that you can use to make your online store eco-friendly or build sustainable websites.

Tip: In a separate article, you can also find out how you can still surfing the internet more sustainably simply by following your heart.

Why an eco-friendly website with sustainable web design?

I don't want to waste a lot of time here, I just want to show you in a few key points why we should make an effort to make the Internet and its websites more climate and environmentally friendly.

  • Global warming: The cooling systems for increased computing power requirements are getting bigger - and consuming more and more energy.
  • Social development: Streaming services are running at full speed because we no longer rent DVDs from video stores, but stream movies and series from the Internet (every time anew).
  • Create added value: Simply selling products is no longer appropriate in times of major environmental problems. Increase the trust of your users, for example, by having a tree planted by an organization of your choice for every purchase.
  • User Experience: Sustainable web design also means few clicks, short paths and a clear website. This saves unnecessary loading processes with every click and therefore a lot of energy.
  • Memory requirements: Websites are getting bigger and bigger. On average, a normal website today needs around 2 megabytes - just three years ago it was around half that size.₁
  • Save costs: A sustainable website tries to be energy and cost efficient at the same time. Costs arise from energy-intensive background processes, for example for the web host and for energy consumption for you as the admin, but also for all users.

Whether it's a sustainable information platform or an online store - as you can see, it's all about reducing the energy consumption of your website. You can find out how your website is currently doing in this regard and what measures you can take, for example, with Websitecarbon.com can be calculated.

10 tips for sustainable web design and environmentally friendly online stores

Sooo! Now the theory stands, we also know our goal. Now it's time for the practical implementation. Here we refer especially to the Speed, on the User friendliness and the Goal setting, as well as to the Optics of your website. With the following tips and ideas, you can ensure that your website is as environmentally friendly as possible.

1. search for a sustainable web hoster

The basis of an environmentally friendly website is a climate-neutral host that relies on green, sustainable data centers that, like you, are also Green electricity use and CO2-work neutrally. In addition to the monthly costs and the use of 100% electricity from renewable energies, you should also look at possible awards and, above all, the Engagement of the provider. Some green web hosters, for example, run their company in the spirit of the economy for the common good.

2. program sustainably

Yes, you can also think environmentally friendly and long-term when it comes to web development. Think of it like a competition: whoever has the clearest HTML, CSS and Javascript code wins. The less, the better. Because a cleanly programmed website is more sustainable because it loaded more energy efficient can become. Avoid too many plugins and external embeddings, which only make your code more complicated and may even break it.

3. reduce the size of the website

While users used to see almost exclusively text, today videos, social media, GIFs and high-resolution images are also made available. It's better to reduce superfluous ballast and unnecessary loading processes and limit the content of your site to the essentials for the user or reader. The smaller your website, the less CO2 must be spent on charging. Cache plugins or smaller images with reduced quality can help you with this, for example.

Tip: Reduce is also an important part of the Zero Waste Lifestyle. This is also a favor to the environment through targeted "waste avoidance". Take a look at the linked article.

4. choose a modern but timeless design

Build eco-friendly websites and online stores

A sustainable web design is characterized by a modern design that is visually, functionally, energy-efficient, user-friendly and simply everything durable so that it does not have to be constantly changed. In the end, of course, this also benefits branding.

Also the Navigation of an environmentally friendly website is logical and target-oriented. Always remember: the more unsorted, the more users have to click and search around wildly. As a result, they are more likely to leave your website again quickly.

5. reduce the page load time

I have already given you some tips on this. But load time optimization is really a science in itself that I haven't researched extensively enough myself. To optimize your sustainable web design in this regard, here are a few more tips for you:

  • Removed unnecessary ballast: For example, Google Maps embeds or social media icons that communicate and load with the third-party sites every time you visit the website.
  • Reduce your images in posts: For one thing, you can reduce their size by turning down the resolution. Secondly, a good post does not need 10 images. Try to find a healthy balance between text and image.
  • Reduce your plugins: The more plugins, the slower and more energy-intensive your site loads. To make my website more sustainable, I have, for example, replaced my former plugin for error messages with a simple Subpage with error message form replaced.

So that you don't lose users by the dozen, I can only advise you to simply check your website with a speed checker like Google Page Speed Insights to tick. There you can find out at a glance how fast or slow your site loads - and what you can practically do to optimize your loading time to do the environment and users a favor.

6. create a responsive design

Environmentally friendly websites and online stores are no longer only used from a desktop, but above all from a smartphone. A sustainable website should therefore function equally well on all devices. After all, if users have to buy new devices because your website doesn't load on all devices, your sustainability is over. Setting up a responsive design not only makes your website more environmentally friendly, but also saves you time and the odd gray hair when maintaining it.

7. build up educational content

This is of course optional - but if you also act environmentally friendly in everyday life and are passionate about environmental protection, then you should also make your knowledge available on your website. If you run an online store that sells off-topic products, I can of course understand that there is a lack of connection. But if you have the opportunity, you should also use the content on your sustainable website to promote a greater commitment to environmental protection. the environmental problems of our time advertise

Ideally, all the content on your website should also be on your own server so that fewer external resources need to be loaded.

Tip: Please, please do without Greenwashing! Write environmental protection in capital letters on your website and in all related activities. And if you do, then create corresponding subpages for company philosophy, mission or sustainability work. This will inspire your customers, but also other store owners.

8. offset the CO2 emissions of your website

Sustainable web design also means taking responsibility. This applies to you and your customers. For example, you can offer to help your customers offset their CO2-emissions for your project by providing a voluntary option at the checkout of your online store for a transparent additional fee of currently 25 cents.

As you probably know, you can also voluntarily purchase a CO2-compensation. Whether for the operation of your website, for air travel or for an event. You can find out more about this in the detailed article about the Offsetting emissions.

Tip: You can also have a tree planted for every order. And every 6 months, for example, you can provide your community with an update on how many trees have been planted with the help of purchases on your website.

9. prevent returns

The increasing number of online orders logically also means more and more courier trips. Attractive offers such as "free shipping" ensure that more orders are returned from your online store in the end. After all, it doesn't cost anything extra. Of course, this is anything but sustainable. Hence the following tips:

  • Create self-explanatory product descriptions
  • Waive "payment on account
  • Ensure high product quality

You can find more tips from a retailer and customer perspective in the detailed article on the Avoiding returns in online retail.

10. take care of climate-friendly shipping

In a sustainable online store, the size of the Shipping cartons always match the product size. So don't send a lighter in a box that would fit a car tire.

The shipping costs should be adjusted to the resource expenditure and You should only offer free shipping for higher order amounts. Also take advantage of sustainable shipping offers such as DHL GoGreen for your products. Ideally, the products from your sustainable online store are also environmentally friendly. For example, as with us at Plastic free store.

Tip: Alternatively, it is also a good idea to work with as many climate-friendly online stores as possible. For example, with affiliate marketing, where you broker products from other providers instead of selling them yourself.

Build eco-friendly websites with sustainable web design

It's not that complicated, is it? If it is, you can also get a web designer or an expert agency to help you with your project. In the end, you will reduce energy consumption and therefore also the energy costs of millions of Internet users. And last but not least, you can also Save money sustainably.

Do you have any other tips for eco-friendly websites or questions about the article? Then just write them in the comments.

Stay sustainable,

Christoph from CareElite - Plastic-free living

PS: Here at CareElite, everything revolves around the best possible sustainable life. Learn, for example, how to help animals in your everyday life can!

References:
₁ How much webspace & storage space do you need (as at: 18.12.2018), available at https://www.hosttest.de/artikel/wie-viel-webspace-1410.html. [07.04.2020].

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* Links with asterisks are so-called Affiliate linksIf you click on it and buy something, you automatically and actively support my work with CareElite.de, as I receive a small share of the proceeds - and of course nothing changes in the product price. Many thanks for your support and best regards, Christoph!

Christoph Schulz

Christoph Schulz

I'm Christoph, an environmental scientist and author - and here at CareElite I'm campaigning against plastic waste in the environment, climate change and all the other major environmental problems of our time. Together with other environmentally conscious bloggers, I want to give you tips & tricks for a naturally healthy, sustainable life as well as your personal development.

1 thought on “Nachhaltiges Webdesign – 10 Tipps für umweltfreundliche Webseiten und Online-Shops”

  1. Thank you for this post! I am also in the process of structuring my processes sustainably. Your contribution is very helpful for this!
    Love greetings
    Hannes

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