Sustainable Business Marketplace
E-commerce Platform, Sustainability Tech

Sustainable Business Marketplace

Project Overview

Development of a purpose-driven marketplace platform dedicated to promoting sustainable and ethical businesses across the UK. The platform combines e-commerce functionality with sustainability metrics, enabling consumers to make informed purchasing decisions while supporting businesses committed to environmental and social responsibility.

Technical Stack

Frontend Architecture

  • Framework: Next.js 14 with App Router for optimal SEO and performance
  • Language: TypeScript 5 for type-safe development
  • Styling: Tailwind CSS with custom green-focused design tokens
  • State: Zustand for lightweight client-side state management
  • Forms: React Hook Form with Zod validation schemas
  • Analytics: Custom tracking implementation measuring sustainability impact

Backend & APIs

  • Runtime: Node.js 20 with Fastify framework for high-performance APIs
  • Database: PostgreSQL 15 with time-series extension for impact tracking
  • ORM: Prisma with automated migration management
  • Authentication: NextAuth.js with OAuth providers and magic link email
  • Payments: Stripe integration with climate contribution options
  • Email: SendGrid with custom transactional templates

Infrastructure & Tools

  • Hosting: Vercel Edge Network for global low-latency delivery
  • Storage: AWS S3 for product images with CloudFront CDN
  • Search: Typesense for fast, typo-tolerant product search
  • Queue System: BullMQ with Redis for background job processing
  • Monitoring: Sentry for error tracking, Vercel Analytics for performance

Core Deliverables

Marketplace Features

  • Multi-vendor marketplace with independent business storefronts
  • Product catalog with sustainability badges and certifications
  • Advanced filtering by eco-credentials, impact metrics, and values
  • Shopping cart with carbon offset calculation at checkout
  • Order management system with tracking and fulfillment
  • Review system highlighting sustainability experiences

Sustainability Tracking

  • Real-time carbon footprint calculator for purchases
  • Impact dashboard showing environmental savings
  • Certification verification system (B-Corp, Fair Trade, Organic, etc.)
  • Supply chain transparency information display
  • Sustainability score algorithm for product ranking
  • Monthly impact reports for customers and vendors

Business Tools

  • Vendor onboarding with sustainability assessment
  • Inventory management integrated with eco-metrics
  • Sales analytics with sustainability performance indicators
  • Marketing tools promoting eco-credentials
  • Educational resources for sustainable business practices
  • Community features for vendor collaboration

Content Management

  • Blog platform for sustainability news and guides
  • Case studies showcasing vendor impact stories
  • Resource library for sustainable living tips
  • Event calendar for eco-focused community activities
  • Newsletter system with segmented content delivery

Technical Innovation

Carbon Calculation Engine

Developed proprietary algorithm calculating product carbon footprints based on:

  • Manufacturing processes and materials
  • Transportation distances and methods
  • Packaging materials and recyclability
  • Product lifecycle and end-of-life disposal
  • Third-party certification data integration

Impact Measurement Dashboard

Created real-time impact tracking system aggregating:

  • Total CO2 emissions saved through purchases
  • Plastic packaging avoided
  • Fair wage jobs supported
  • Trees planted through offset programs
  • Water conservation achieved

Certification Verification System

Built automated verification workflow:

  • API integrations with major certification bodies
  • Document upload and validation process
  • Automated renewal reminders
  • Public badge display with verification links
  • Audit trail for compliance tracking

Technical Challenges Addressed

Complex Product Taxonomy

Designed flexible product categorization system supporting:

  • Multiple sustainability attributes per product
  • Dynamic filtering without performance degradation
  • Faceted search with real-time result counts
  • Custom sorting algorithms prioritizing impact

Real-time Impact Calculations

Optimized calculation engine to compute carbon and sustainability metrics:

  • Sub-50ms calculation times for complex product combinations
  • Caching strategies for frequently accessed data
  • Background recalculation when supplier data updates
  • Accurate aggregation across thousands of products

Vendor Scalability

Architected multi-tenant system supporting:

  • Unlimited vendor accounts with isolated data
  • Customizable storefronts with brand identity
  • Independent inventory and pricing management
  • Consolidated checkout across multiple vendors

Results & Impact

Platform Metrics

  • Performance: 1.2s average page load, 98 Lighthouse score
  • Uptime: 99.95% availability across all services
  • Mobile: Progressive Web App with offline capability
  • Security: A+ SSL Labs rating, PCI DSS compliant payment processing

Business Growth

  • Vendors: Onboarded 450+ verified sustainable businesses
  • Products: 25,000+ eco-certified products listed
  • Customers: 75,000+ registered users making conscious choices
  • GMV: £12M gross merchandise value in first 18 months

Sustainability Impact

  • CO2 Saved: 1,200 tonnes CO2 equivalent avoided
  • Plastic Reduced: 450,000 single-use plastic items prevented
  • Trees Planted: 25,000 trees through offset partnerships
  • Fair Wages: £2.5M directed to fair trade certified suppliers

SEO & Visibility

  • Organic Traffic: 250,000 monthly organic visitors
  • Rankings: 5,000+ keywords in top 10 for sustainable product searches
  • Backlinks: 3,500+ quality backlinks from sustainability publications
  • Domain Authority: Reached DA 48 within 12 months

Unique Features

Eco-Score Algorithm

Developed transparent scoring system evaluating products on:

  • Environmental impact across lifecycle
  • Ethical sourcing and labor practices
  • Packaging sustainability
  • Company commitment to continuous improvement
  • Third-party certifications and audits

Community Impact Tracking

Interactive features showing collective user impact:

  • Live counter of community environmental savings
  • Leaderboards for most impactful shoppers
  • Social sharing of sustainability achievements
  • Challenges and rewards for eco-friendly behaviors

Educational Integration

Built-in learning platform featuring:

  • Sustainability courses and certifications
  • Vendor webinars on sustainable practices
  • Expert-written guides and articles
  • Interactive tools (carbon calculators, swap guides)

Future-Proof Architecture

Platform designed for long-term evolution:

  • Microservices-ready architecture for feature scaling
  • API-first design enabling third-party integrations
  • Modular component library for rapid feature development
  • Comprehensive testing (92% coverage) preventing regressions
  • Documentation enabling smooth team transitions
  • Regular security audits and dependency updates
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Frequently asked questions

How do you measure marketing success?

We measure success using tailored KPIs, such as website traffic, conversions, CTR, leads, sales revenue and social media engagement. Our team monitors campaign performance daily and delivers detailed reports to showcase results, identifying areas for optimisation to ensure continuous improvement and business growth.

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We start by understanding your business, region, target audience, and competitors. Then, we conduct in-depth research to identify keywords, industry trends, and market opportunities. Using this data, we craft a customised, multi-channel digital marketing strategy designed to boost your online presence and drive measurable results.

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Yes, all our branding comes with a 6-month code break warranty. We will fix any issues at no extra cost.

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DreamStartup UK offers branding, rebranding, Shopify, SEO, £0 technical debt development, sales funnels, lead generation, and social media management.

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Results vary by strategy and industry. PPC offers quicker returns, while SEO builds long-term growth. We provide transparent progress updates to ensure sustainable success.

Can you provide examples of past projects?

Please visit our portfolio page for detailed information on our technology stack and marketing strategies.

Do you offer in-person and virtual meetings?

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Is digital marketing suitable for small budgets?

Yes! Digital marketing can be customised for any budget. We identify impactful, cost-effective strategies to maximise your online presence, including local SEO and targeted social media advertising.