Shoppers have gotten picky about who they buy from. Price and shipping speed still matter, but more buyers are paying attention to whether a brand shares their values — and that scrutiny extends to how products are warehoused and shipped, not just what’s in the box.

For eCommerce sellers, the 3PL you choose is part of your brand story whether you intend it to be or not. That’s why it’s worth knowing what eFulfillment Service (EFS) has actually done to reduce its environmental footprint — not as a PR exercise, but as a series of real operational changes made over time.

Cutting Energy Use in a 225,000 Sq. Ft. Facility

Changing the lighting across a warehouse that size is not a small project. Over several months, EFS replaced every fluorescent bulb in its warehouse and office areas with LED lighting. Electrical upgrades were made at the same time so that only emergency lighting stays on continuously. Together, those two changes have produced measurable energy savings that compound over time.

On the road, EFS swapped out its heavier box trucks for smaller vans with better fuel economy.

Inside the fulfillment warehouse, all forklifts, reach trucks, and ladders are either manual or electric. No propane or gas-powered equipment operates on the warehouse floor — a decision that lowers emissions and keeps the air cleaner for EFS team members

What Happens to the Waste

EFS runs a recycling program across the facility covering cardboard, plastic, and metal. After switching to a larger 30-yard recycling dumpster, the company has diverted more than 3,500 square feet of plastic and paper from landfills every month, while also cutting garbage service costs.

For the harder-to-recycle stuff — grocery bags, flexible plastics that most curbside programs won’t touch — EFS partnered with Republic Services, which invested $1 million in specialized equipment specifically for processing those materials.

For client inventory that can’t go through standard recycling channels (expired nutraceuticals, slow-moving food, books, cosmetics, branded apparel), EFS works with a downstream recycling partner. Downstream recycling takes materials that can’t be recycled conventionally and repurposes them into new products — the most practical version of reduce, reuse, recycle in action.

EFS also sells or recycles 100% of its cardboard, metal, batteries, and wood pallets, and donates e-waste to northern Michigan nonprofits that benefit from the proceeds.

Greener Packaging Options for Your Brand

eCommerce sellers who want to ship more sustainably will find that EFS has already done some of the groundwork. The company works with packaging partners who offer Earth-friendly custom options, so sellers can use branded packaging that’s also recyclable or compostable.

EFS eliminated styrene packing peanuts entirely. Shipments are protected with compostable paper dunnage or recyclable bubble wrap instead.

Customers increasingly expect the brands they buy from to care about packaging. Partnering with a 3PL that has already made these changes is one of the more straightforward ways to lower your own brand’s carbon footprint without adding complexity to your operations.

How EFS Gets Its Team Involved

Sustainability programs stall when they live only on paper. At EFS, recycling bins with clear sorting signage are set up in every break room and kitchen area. Employee-led green teams handle collection and sorting. Supervisors go through training on proper recycling procedures to keep streams uncontaminated. The office lunchroom has moved from single-use plasticware to reusable dishes and utensils.

These aren’t headline initiatives — they’re the small, daily habits that determine whether a sustainability program actually works.

Beyond the Warehouse Walls

EFS participates in Traverse City’s Green Up, Clean Up events, which collect hazardous materials like paint, batteries, and industrial cleaners that can’t go through regular waste channels. The company operates on the straightforward principle that a good business neighbor takes responsibility for more than what happens on its own property.