Bol began in 1999 when online shopping was just starting. Over 25 years, bol grew fast, just like online shopping did. At first, bol worked hard to make shopping online really easy by offering more products, fast delivery, paying after getting your order, and simple returns. Bol still cares a lot about its customers, but now it also wants to help make choices that are good for the Earth.

The group articulated that “Climate change is a challenge for society as a whole, for which Bol also feels responsible. Our ambition is to significantly reduce the impact of our activities on the planet, precisely because we are aware of our major influence. After all, a large part of people’s CO2 footprint is created by consuming. Just as we have made online shopping easy for our customers, we want to do the same for circular shopping. Circular shopping must become mainstream.”

The company underlines that it “… focuses on the journey of a product until the customer receives it, but the journey does not end there: products still have a lifetime after delivery to the customer. In a circular economy, raw materials are used as efficiently and sustainably as possible. That is where the future lies for us: extending the life cycle of products, with as little waste as possible” and accentuates on the particularities of their business models, stating that “As a large platform, it is not only important to make ourselves more sustainable, we want to get the entire chain moving. But the real climate impact is in the products we offer and the choices our customers make. Bol has a responsibility to act on this. Circular business models will play an essential role in this”.

Bol has been actively reducing its environmental footprint, starting with eco-friendlier operations like using less packaging. In 2023, they saved 2,200 tons of cardboard by not using their blue boxes for items that are already well-packed. They’re also improving delivery by using electric vehicles and bikes. Since becoming a B Corp in 2023, bol meets strict standards for social and environmental impact. They encourage customers to shop sustainably by labeling over 1.7 million products with a globe symbol, indicating they’re better for the environment. Bol’s Climate Hub also supports suppliers in cutting down CO2 emissions.