Lazada Unveils Sustainability Education Program for Sellers

The Lazada Sustainability Academy (LSA) launched this month with the aim to empower small and medium-sized enterprises in Southeast Asia to operate and grow in the digital ecosystem in a more sustainable manner.

The academy’s holistic curriculum is designed for SMEs at all stages of the sustainability journey and covers a broad range of topics, including sustainable packaging practices, energy-efficient operations, product traceability, the circular economy and employee health and safety.

For businesses that are new to sustainability, the program offers easy-to-digest and regularly updated e-learning content available through Lazada University. Jointly designed with the Singapore Environment Council (SEC), the content includes blog articles, images and educational videos. Meanwhile, an “Ask the Experts” interview series provides more in-depth insights from LSA’s external knowledge partners, including the International Trade Centre, Centre for Governance and Sustainability, NUS Business School, Deloitte, SEC, Bureau Veritas and Synagie.

The academy’s third component is its Seller Acceleration Camp – an intensive boot camp paired with a six-month training program – designed for those who are ready to put sustainable business practices into action. The academy piloted its first boot camp last month in Indonesia in collaboration with the International Trade Centre as well as non-profit organization Kopernik and financing platform Modalku. The camp was held for 30 sellers from Bali and Jakarta for its inaugural edition and will soon be rolled out regionally.

“Until now, our main focus as business owners has solely been on our sales and profits,” said Arif Mujafar, owner of clothing shop Bali Swalayan and one of the participants of Lazada Indonesia’s Seller Acceleration Camp. “This two-day boot camp has been an eye-opening experience for me, as the program provides in-depth and valuable insights into sustainable practices. I’m excited to continue with the rest of the program in the upcoming months to learn more about sustainability and how it can help us address the issues we are currently facing.”

The academy is the latest initiative under Lazada’s Environmental, Social and Governance framework. Under this framework, the eCommerce company aims to leverage technology to create a more sustainable and better world for all.

“We are delighted to collaborate closely with SEC as well as other external knowledge partners on this important initiative to advance sustainability in the e-commerce ecosystem,” said Gladys Chun, General Counsel of Lazada Group. “This program is one step closer towards our greater goal of enriching the lives of all participants in the digital economy while building toward a resilient and sustainable future, and we are committed to helping our sellers excel for sustainable growth.”