Sell Eco-Friendly & Sustainable Products: A Guide To Build A Marketplace

Are you a health-conscious brand looking to manage your eco-friendly dropshipping suppliers?

Or, a retailer wanting to add a range of sustainable products on offer on the e-commerce site?

Maybe,  you are an entrepreneur who dreams of connecting the conscious consumer to green products.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Product-based, Preowned marketplace, Service-based, and C2C marketplaces for eco-friendly products.
  
• Features that would make any green marketplace stand out among numerous available.
  
• Prioritize the ways of setting up a multi-vendor platform for making green businesses grow alongside your vision; that is, scalable with little work.
  

Let’s get started!

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1. Established marketplaces promoting sustainable products

There is a growing demand for eco-friendly and sustainable consumerism.  

Here are the brands that have become game changer in the sustainable niche. They’re invested in promoting sustainability consumerism and Shipturtle’s platform has been a big part of their success.

Let’s take a look at how these brands are leading the way.

I. Ecolo

Ecolo.store is a sustainability-focused platform offering eco-friendly alternatives for daily use. Their diverse range includes reusable household items, biodegradable products, and sustainably sourced accessories. With a commitment to reducing waste and promoting conscious consumption, Ecolo.store empowers consumers to adopt more environmentally friendly lifestyles.

II. Brown Living™

Brown Living™ is India’s first planet-positive online platform, offering eco-conscious consumers a curated selection of sustainable, cruelty-free, and plastic-free products. With a focus on local, handmade items, the brand promotes a zero-waste, vegan lifestyle. 

III. Suspire

Suspire is an eco-friendly online marketplace offering over 20,000 sustainable products from 350+ vegan and cruelty-free brands. Categories include home goods, apparel, beauty, food, and gifts. They provide convenient shipping options, discounts, and a commitment to supporting Indian artisans and eco-conscious living through curated green alternatives.

IV. Gabbar Farms

Gabbar Farms specializes in hydroponic farming, an advanced agricultural technique where plants are grown in nutrient-rich, filtered water without soil. This method ensures zero use of harmful chemicals or pesticides. The farm produces fresh, high-quality vegetables, herbs, and greens while offering artisanal products like cheese, tofu, breads, and kombucha.

V. My Bageecha

MyBageecha is an eco-friendly marketplace offering a wide range of products to promote sustainable living. It features a variety of indoor and outdoor plants, eco-friendly planters, and nature-inspired home decor to bring the beauty of nature indoors. Additionally, it offers gardening tools, accessories, and plant care products to support plant growth. With a focus on sustainability, MyBageecha provides customers with everything needed to create greener, healthier, and more vibrant spaces in their homes.

2. Recommended marketplace types for greener products and services

Choosing the correct marketplace for eco-friendly and sustainable products is critical to achieving both corporate objectives and customer demands. Each marketplace type offers advantages based on your target audience and objectives.

I. Product-based marketplace

A product-based marketplace is quite simply a place to sell tangible products: green products for the home, organic skin care, sustainable clothing, and so on. Inventory is handled directly by the vendors but everything else product listing, transactions, and shipping logistics is taken care of by the marketplace provider like Shipturtle.

Example:

• EarthHero – Marketplace for all eco-friendly products sustainable home amenities eco-fashions and organic beauty products. A one-stop store for all that is eco-conscious.
  
  

II. Pre-owned goods marketplace

Pre-owned marketplace, users will have the opportunity to buy and sell used items that might help shift towards a more sustainable reality by granting items a second life.

Such users can source second-hand items such as eco-friendly furniture, used exercise equipment, or previously owned dresses, among other things. It is indeed a promising venture alongside waste reduction and some savings.

Example:

• ThreadUp - It is a pre-owned clothing marketplace dedicated to offering stylish, high-quality second-hand clothes. With sustainability being the core value of ThreadUp, it aims to connect consumers to purchase other used, everyday high-street, or premium designer products. It aims to use such clothes, to inspire conscious consumption, accessibility, and eco-friendliness in fashion.
  
  

III. Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C) marketplace

C2C marketplaces usually allow sellers and buyers to connect directly, benefiting the two parties to exchange products or services. This model is particularly beneficial for small businesses and artisans who have created personalized, often handmade items.

Example:

• Package Free Shop - Package Free is a marketplace for sustainable products - home, kitchen - and personal care items. This online marketplace sells goods in reusable, refillable, compostable or recyclable options, and with 100% plastic-free packaging. Package Free Shop also partners with more eco-friendly brands championing our planet, thereby making it simpler to discover new sustainable brands.
  
  

IV. Service-based marketplace

The service-based marketplace is a connecting ground between the user and the service providers like yoga class owners, sustainable living consultants, eco-living coaches, etc. Such sites help consumers search, compare, and book services directly.

For the vendor, these platforms take care of scheduling, payment, and client communication, making it easy to manage operations without too much time spent on service deliveries.

Example:

Mindbody – An online platform that gives users access to wellness services encompassing yoga, personal fitness coaching, and holistic therapies. These services tend toward sustainable health practices like eco-fitness, meditative practices, and plant-based nutrition coaching.

3. Five must-have features in a multivendor marketplace

If you're building a marketplace for eco-friendly products, the following features will make your platform stand out and keep your customers happy:

• Inventory management— Keep everything in sync with real-time updates, so your sellers won’t accidentally run out of stock or sell something that’s already gone. It makes the shopping experience smoother for everyone.
  
  
• Logistics and shipping solutions— You can offer real-time tracking so customers always know where their eco-friendly products are. Plus, by working with different shipping providers, you can offer affordable options to keep shipping costs low.
  
  
• Subscription options— If you sell products that people need regularly like eco-friendly cleaning supplies or beauty products give them the option to subscribe. This makes it easy for customers to keep coming back, and they’ll love the convenience.
  
  
• Scheduling and booking system— You can offer services like eco-consulting or wellness coaching, a simple booking system lets customers schedule their appointments without all the back-and-forth. They can see real-time availability and book instantly.
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• Vendor commissions and payouts— Handle all payments smoothly and securely, with easy options for refunds, pre-payments, and cancellations. This keeps both vendors and customers happy, knowing everything’s taken care of.

4. A step-by-step guide to building marketplace using Shipturtle

Building a feature-rich multi-vendor marketplace may seem like a big and daunting task, but it can really happen with the right tools and clear self-explanatory steps.

Let's break it down into 6 simple steps:

• Step 1: Set up your cart platform
• Step 2: Select your multi-vendor plugin
• Step 3: Connect various vendor stores
• Step 4: Utilise strong workflows and integrations
• Step 5: Customise using open APIs
• Step 6: Marketing strategies

Note: A unique domain name and a hosting plan is needed.

Step 1: Set up your cart platform

Setting up your eCommerce platform is crucial for laying a solid foundation.

Platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento serve as the foundation, allowing you to build a marketplace suited to your specific company needs.

This is how you do it:

1. Visit the Shopify website and set up an account.
   
2. To use Woocommerce, first install WordPress and then activate the WooCommerce plugin.
   
3. Choose a website theme that fits your marketplace's specialisation.
   
   

Step 2: Select the multivendor plugin

Having your cart platform ready guarantees that your business may be transformed into a multivendor marketplace utilising technologies such as Shipturtle. You may now grow operations by incorporating multivendor features.

Shipturtle provides all of the tools required to develop and run a multivendor marketplace for any niche, including health supplements and wellness items.

If you continue to be confused, watch the App Overview video tutorial.

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Step 3: Connect various vendor stores

Shipturtle connects stores across Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Squarespace, Wix, and even physical retailers. Vendors may effortlessly integrate inventory and sales across several platforms. This cross-platform connection is ideal for growing your marketplace and recruiting vendors from other ecosystems.

Our Vendor Sync functionality uses Webhooks instead of APIs. This eliminates overselling and underselling altogether, offering a 10% increase in income. Furthermore, Shipturtle's powerful reconciliation system and modification record ensure correct inventory practically every time.

If you're still confused, see the Vendor Module video tutorial.

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Step 4: Utilise strong workflows and integrations

Shipturtle provides your multivendor marketplace with 400+ processes and 5000+ integrations. Together, the powerful components automate and simplify operations, allowing you to expand successfully while maintaining process control. 

Take a deeper look at its robust processes and integrations:

i. Product listing module

Allow merchants to easily manage their product catalogues.

1. Vendors may add, update, and delete goods straight from their dashboard.
   
2. Upload items in bulk using CSV files to save time with huge inventory.
   
3. Organise items into categories and use custom tags to improve discoverability.
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As the administrator, you will have complete control, with the power to accept or reject postings, guaranteeing quality and uniformity throughout the marketplace. If you're still confused, see the Products & Listings Module video tutorial.

ii. Order module

Streamline order processing using Shipturtle's automated order management solution.

1. Automatically divide orders among suppliers based on the items ordered.
   
2. Vendors get order alerts and may manage fulfilment through their dashboards.
   
3. Orders are tracked from start to finish, with real-time information for both consumers and sellers.
   
   

This assures proper order processing, avoids delays, and provides a pleasant consumer experience. If you're still confused, see the Orders Module video tutorial.

iii. Payouts module

Simplify vendor payments using Shipturtle's numerous options:

1. Set commission rates for each vendor on five levels, using a flat charge, percentage, or combination.
   
2. Automate payments with Stripe, PayPal, or Razorpay connections.
   
3. Create precise reports to guarantee that all vendors receive accurate profits on schedule.
   
   

This transparency fosters confidence among your vendors while streamlining your financial operations. If you're still confused, see the Payouts Module video tutorial.

IV. Shipping module

Logistics made simple with Shipturtle's extensive shipping features:

1. Create global shipping rules or bespoke rates for each vendor depending on region or product category.
   
2. Offer consumers a variety of shipping alternatives, ranging from basic to expedited delivery.
   
3. Integrate with 200+ third-party logistics companies such as FedEx, UPS, and local courier services to ensure flawless delivery operations.
   
   

The module guarantees that suppliers may effectively manage shipping while you maintain control over the whole client experience. If you're still confused, see the Shipping Module video tutorial.

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Step 5: Customise using Open APIs

Take your marketplace to the next level with open API support. Whether you want bespoke processes, complex analytics, or specialized payment methods.

Shipturtle's API infrastructure enables you to create personalized solutions. This adaptability guarantees that your marketplace changes per your company goals and client expectations.

5. Start a sustainable and eco-friendly products marketplace with Shipturtle

How do you make sure your platform stands out, especially when it comes to meeting the needs of conscious shoppers? Whether you’re offering sustainable products or wellness services, Shipturtle’s got your back with some key features that can enhance your eco marketplace.

• Customizable platforms— Want to offer more than just products? Maybe you need features like appointment booking for wellness consultations, or even a system to manage eco-friendly product subscriptions. With Shipturtle, you can easily adjust the platform to fit your specific needs.

• Seamless vendor onboarding— Got a lot of suppliers or service providers? Shipturtle makes it super easy to integrate multiple vendors, so you can offer a wide range of eco-friendly options without the headaches of complicated setups.

• Scalability— Whether you're starting small or planning to go global, Shipturtle’s platform is built to grow with you. It can handle both B2B and B2C, so whether you’re selling directly to consumers or partnering with other businesses, it works for you.
  
  

Book a personalized consultation to learn more about our use case.