Leave No Trace

I am a big fan of e-commerce, not only as a consumer but also because I believe it really does open up opportunities for Africa’s women entrepreneurs to access global markets - and that can be a real game-changer for their businesses. But with the rapid rise of e-commerce activity during the pandemic, there has been an unintended consequence to all of us dashing online to make our purchases and get them safely delivered to our doors. The world is running out of cardboard packaging - yes, there is a real shortage of cardboard right now! That means potential delays for those entrepreneurs who need plenty of cardboard boxes and packaging to ship their precious products to customers. But there are ways of dealing with this problem in a more sustainable way. Just last week, I received a parcel from a small, niche clothing brand that makes a conscious commitment to being more eco-friendly along its entire value chain. The company, Finisterre, believes that single use is no use and has made a commitment to eradicate single use, non-degradable plastic at its factory. They didn’t just stop there, and their sustainable packaging commitment covers everything from the swingtag to the bag customers receive their orders in, which is made of biodegradable cellulose. Their sustainable philosophy of “Leave No Trace” is a great example of how individual, forward-thinking, socially responsible entrepreneurs can do business in a more sustainable way. It’s something we can all think about in our businesses.

Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! — Melanie