China’s biggest online shopping event (Singles Day) is focusing on “eco-friendly consumption” and “supporting vulnerable populations.” In 2020, Alibaba Group’s annual Singles Day online shopping event evolved from a one-day holiday to a 11-day extravaganza full of celebrity performances and special deals (last year, it raked in gross merchandise value of 840 billion yuan—$131.3 billion). This year, however, “eco-friendly consumption” and “supporting vulnerable populations” are top of mind as the environment has drastically changed major ecommerce platforms in China. Alibaba Group said it will develop new products with lower carbon footprints while pledging to make charitable donations during its November 11 event, and the group will give away 100 million yuan worth of “green” vouchers to “incentivize shopping decisions that contribute to an environmentally-friendly lifestyle.” (Reuters, CNBC)
