The Importance of Eco-Commerce in the Context of Sustainable Development: A Case Study Analysis

Sustainability has become a priority for many sectors of the economy, including the e-commerce sector, and the concept of eco-commerce is emerging as a key concept to support this goal. This article highlights the importance of eco-commerce as a strategic factor for companies pursuing sustainability in the SME sector, harmonizing business goals with environmental concerns. The case study considers the implementation of specific solutions in four key areas of the sector studied: business model, operational materials, order management and image communication. In addition, the empirical section also includes constraints related to the implementation of eco-commerce elements in the organization's structures, such as the cost of internal eco-innovations, changes in operational processes and the need to change organizational culture. The increasing role of process automation, especially the aforementioned operational processes related to sales and after-sales activities, is due to growing economic challenges, such as rising purchasing volumes, declining margins, rising transaction costs and intensifying competition. In order to meet these challenges, organizations must demonstrate a high degree of adaptability and self-organizational intelligence, which in the case under review takes sustainability as a leading aspect. The research process also included a review of academic and industry literature to systematize concepts related to the use of eco-commerce strategies in the context of sustainability. Findings from the analysis can inform the development of key operational practices and sustainable strategies for companies operating in the e-commerce sector.