Sustainability has never been more top of mind for brands, merchants and consumers. But how brands communicate their environmental initiatives to shoppers will be critical in a post-pandemic world.

2021 is a fresh start for the retail industry and brands all over the world are strategizing on how to bounce back from a challenging, transformative year.

However, the climate emergency continues to accelerate, and to maintain high brand loyalty and shopper engagement, sustainability efforts need to remain a core focus in brands’ strategies.

In fact, a recent study showed that two-thirds of shoppers today prefer eco-friendly brands – and that number is only rising.

From pushing for circular fashion to advocating for sustainable sourcing, Gen-Z and millennial shoppers are rewarding brands that not only pay attention to climate change but make bold moves to address it. This new generation of shoppers, many of whom have come of age during the pandemic, are happy to put in the extra work to find environmentally friendly items and are looking for assurance that products they purchase and the brands they are loyal to are taking steps to minimize their environmental impact.

In-store experiences are important to these eco-conscious shoppers. They can get advice 1:1 about how products are made and where they come from, avoid the carbon footprint from shipping, and more. So how do brands preserve this online? That’s where virtual stores come in. A virtual store takes the whole browsing experience you’d expect IRL and brings it to life online.

Leading brands today are winning over eco-conscious shoppers with their virtual stores. Here’s how: