By Melvin Hipolito
Copyright futurefive
Online shoppers at HealthPost’s Flora & Fauna can now access parcel deliveries with climate contributions through a new technology partnership with Australian EcoTech company, Sphere.
The new feature, live on Flora & Fauna’s website, allows customers to view an estimate of carbon emissions generated by their delivery during the checkout process. This estimate is calculated in real time, taking into account the customer’s order contents, delivery address, and selected shipping method.
Flora & Fauna automatically adds a small climate contribution to the transaction at checkout that matches the estimated emissions. Funds from these contributions support the Sunnyside Permanent Planting Project, which focuses on native ecosystem restoration in south-west Western Australia. Customers also have the option to increase their climate contribution by adding to the amount, further supporting verified climate projects through Sphere’s platform.
The technology behind this initiative is Sphere’s new Shopify app, called Click Sphere for Good, which is designed to help online retailers estimate and disclose delivery emissions to shoppers at checkout. The tool is now available to other retailers upon request.
Checkout transparency
HealthPost Chief Executive Officer, Abel Butler, commented on the initiative:
“HealthPost is proud to partner with Sphere on this for Flora & Fauna. Our customers care about practical ways to reduce impact. This feature increases transparency at checkout, helps customers choose lower-carbon options where available, and enables an optional contribution to additional climate action.”
Butler emphasised that the solution aligns with the interests of HealthPost and Flora & Fauna’s customer base, many of whom are seeking ways to make responsible choices when it comes to environmental impact.
Emission estimation
Sphere’s Click Sphere for Good app calculates emissions for each delivery using order-specific data and integrates the information seamlessly into the checkout process. Sphere Chief Executive Officer, Shaun Lordan, welcomed the collaboration with HealthPost, describing the broader intent for this technology in the growing parcel delivery sector.
“We’re delighted to work with HealthPost on Flora & Fauna. Our goal is to make climate action simple and accessible at checkout. Online parcel deliveries are a significant growth industry globally, with 256 billion parcels forecast to be delivered each year by 2027. Our new Click Sphere for Good app helps retailers estimate their delivery emissions and invites them and their customers to contribute to high-quality climate projects.”
Retailer access
The feature is now operational for Flora & Fauna customers and, according to both companies, there are plans to evaluate its rollout to other brands under the HealthPost group after the pilot phase. Retailers interested in adopting the capability can contact Sphere regarding access to the Shopify app.
According to project details, the funds raised through the climate contribution will be directed to the Sunnyside Permanent Planting Project. This initiative undertakes permanent native vegetation planting in Western Australia to enhance biodiversity and support climate goals.
The announcement comes against a backdrop of high parcel volume during busy periods for retailers. For instance, Australia Post delivered 103 million parcels in just the November-December 2024 holiday period, illustrating the scale of transport emissions associated with eCommerce deliveries in the country.
Retailers participating in the scheme will be able to offer their shoppers greater transparency regarding the environmental impact of their delivery choices, as well as the opportunity to offset emissions from transport. The Sphere Shopify app supports a range of related features for merchants, including emissions estimation, checkout options for climate contributions, and reporting tools.
HealthPost was founded in Aotearoa New Zealand in 1988 and now operates a range of brands, including Flora & Fauna and Nourished Life in Australia, through The Future Co. The group’s stated focus includes a commitment to positive environmental impact through activities such as the HealthPost Nature Trust in Mohua Golden Bay.
The companies are exploring opportunities to expand the climate contribution feature to further brands in the future following initial results and customer feedback from Flora & Fauna’s pilot.
