Consumers are increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of their purchases, demanding greater transparency, ethical sourcing, and eco-friendly product options. At the same time, governments and regulatory bodies are imposing stricter sustainability standards, such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Digital Product Passports, requiring companies to track and disclose their environmental impact with greater precision.

While compliance is essential, the true value of sustainability lies in its ability to streamline operations and unlock cost-saving efficiencies. According to a recent Gartner survey, 80% of business leaders state that their sustainability programs helped reduce costs and improve operational efficiency in response to disruptions. From streamlining supply chains to reducing waste and optimizing energy consumption, sustainability-focused strategies are proving to be a long-term driver of profitability.

To achieve these goals, businesses must move beyond fragmented sustainability efforts and invest in scalable, technology-driven solutions. Digital transformation and automation are key enablers, ensuring that sustainability initiatives are not just reactive policies but embedded, data-driven processes that drive continuous improvement. However, many companies struggle to implement these changes due to rigid IT systems, lack of integration, and the high cost of digital transformation.

In the following sections, we explore common technology roadblocks and six key areas where low-code technologies can help businesses accelerate and scale their sustainability efforts, from automating compliance reporting to optimizing circular economy initiatives.

Technology Challenges Around Sustainable Commerce

Many sustainability initiatives get stalled or abandoned altogether because businesses struggle to move beyond fragmented, one-off efforts toward scalable, long-term strategies. The challenge isn’t just about commitment, it is about execution. Sustainability requires seamless data integration, automation, and adaptability, yet many businesses are held back by rigid IT systems, disconnected workflows, and high implementation costs. Without the right technology, organizations find it difficult to track environmental impact, comply with evolving regulations, and optimize supply chains for sustainability.

The most common technology challenges include:

• Legacy Systems Lack Flexibility: Most enterprise commerce and PIM platforms were not built for sustainability tracking, making it difficult to integrate new regulations, automate carbon footprint calculations, or manage sustainable sourcing without expensive custom development.
• Slow Adaptation to Regulatory Changes: Sustainability regulations like CSRD and Digital Product Passports are evolving rapidly. Businesses need real-time reporting and automated compliance workflows, yet many rely on manual processes and outdated infrastructure, slowing their ability to respond.
• Disconnected Data and Supply Chain Visibility: Sustainability decisions require comprehensive, real-time insights across supply chains, inventory, and commerce operations. However, many companies struggle with fragmented data, making it difficult to optimize logistics, track carbon emissions, or enforce responsible sourcing.
• High Costs and Complexity of Digital Transformation: Traditional IT-driven sustainability initiatives often require large-scale replatforming, long development cycles, and high implementation costs. Many businesses delay or deprioritize sustainability improvements because of the expense and complexity involved.
• Lack of Cross-Team Collaboration: Sustainability involves procurement, operations, compliance, IT, and marketing, yet rigid technology silos prevent efficient data sharing, workflow automation, and cross-functional collaboration—making execution slow and inefficient.

To move beyond roadblocks, organizations need a flexible, scalable approach that integrates sustainability into core operations—without costly IT overhauls. Low-code technologies provide this agility, enabling businesses to automate compliance, connect sustainability data across systems, and scale initiatives efficiently.

Advantage 1: Rapid Compliance Adaptation

Sustainability regulations are constantly evolving, requiring businesses to track, measure, and report on environmental impact with increasing accuracy. New policies mandate detailed disclosures on carbon emissions, material sourcing, and recyclability. For many companies, meeting these standards means adjusting reporting structures, data collection methods, and supply chain visibility—all while maintaining operational efficiency.

Low-code platforms provide a scalable and adaptable solution, allowing businesses to implement compliance requirements quickly and efficiently without relying on extensive development work or major system overhauls. Instead of replatforming, businesses can configure workflows, automate data tracking, and integrate sustainability metrics in real-time:

• Automate compliance workflows to generate sustainability reports dynamically and reduce manual effort.
• Quickly configure new data models to track carbon footprint, material sourcing, and recycling data without custom development.
• Integrate third-party sustainability tracking tools via APIs for seamless, automated data collection.
• Build dynamic dashboards that update automatically as regulations change, ensuring operations remain compliant.

In practice, a global retailer can use low-code automation to collect supplier sustainability certifications and dynamically update product data for CSRD compliance. A consumer electronics brand can integrate circular economy tracking tools into its PIM system to monitor repairability and recyclability rates without custom development. Meanwhile, a fashion company can implement a low-code-powered audit process to ensure ethical sourcing standards are met, flagging non-compliant suppliers automatically. By streamlining compliance processes, low-code platforms help businesses stay ahead of regulatory changes, reduce administrative burdens, and maintain transparency—without costly IT overhauls.

Advantage 2: Smarter Product Lifecycle and Data Management

Sustainable commerce requires businesses to track and optimize every stage of a product’s lifecycle—from sourcing raw materials to disposal or reuse. Companies are under increasing pressure to ensure ethical sourcing, reduce waste, and provide consumers with accurate sustainability data on eco-certifications, recyclability, and environmental impact. However, many struggle with fragmented product lifecycle data and outdated product information management (PIM) systems, making it difficult to keep sustainability data consistent across suppliers, internal systems, and sales channels.

Low-code platforms help businesses automate and integrate product lifecycle management (PLM) and sustainability data enrichment in a unified, scalable way. Instead of relying on manual updates or custom-built solutions, companies can dynamically track, update, and share sustainability attributes across the entire product journey.

• Track sustainable materials and certifications across suppliers, ensuring transparency in sourcing and compliance with sustainability standards.
• Automate lifecycle impact assessments to measure carbon emissions, recyclability, and circularity potential from product inception to end-of-life.
• Enrich product data dynamically with sustainability attributes such as eco-labels, recyclability details, and repairability scores across channels.
• Ensure consistency across systems by integrating PLM with PIM, commerce, and inventory platforms to synchronize sustainability data in real-time.

For example, a global furniture retailer can use low-code automation to track the percentage of recycled materials used in each product and update sustainability scores dynamically. A consumer electronics company can implement an automated process to ensure products meet extended producer responsibility (EPR) guidelines, flagging items that do not meet recyclability requirements. Meanwhile, a beauty brand can streamline ingredient traceability by integrating low-code PLM workflows with supplier databases to validate sustainable sourcing claims and eco-certifications.

By embedding sustainability data directly into product lifecycle and commerce systems, businesses can improve supply chain visibility, reduce waste, and ensure accurate sustainability claims—without the need for costly system overhauls.

Advantage 3: Supply Chain Optimization

Sustainability in commerce extends beyond individual products—it requires a holistic approach to supply chain management. Inefficient logistics, excess inventory, and long transportation routes contribute to higher emissions, resource waste, and increased costs. To meet sustainability goals, businesses need real-time visibility into supply chain data, allowing them to optimize sourcing, fulfillment, and distribution while reducing their environmental footprint.

Low-code platforms provide the flexibility to integrate real-time tracking, automation, and AI-driven decision-making into supply chain operations. Instead of relying on manual data processing or expensive system customizations, businesses can dynamically adjust logistics, reduce waste, and implement carbon-efficient fulfillment strategies.

• Automate demand forecasting and inventory optimization to prevent overproduction and minimize excess stock.
• Integrate real-time carbon tracking tools into supply chain workflows, allowing businesses to measure and reduce emissions at each stage.
• Optimize last-mile delivery logistics by leveraging AI-powered routing and fulfillment automation to lower fuel consumption and delivery times.
• Enhance supplier sustainability assessments by automating audits and integrating third-party sustainability ratings into procurement decisions.

For example, a fashion retailer can use low-code automation to predict seasonal demand fluctuations and adjust sourcing strategies accordingly, preventing excess stock from becoming landfill waste. A grocery chain can integrate AI-powered logistics planning to optimize delivery routes and reduce fuel usage, ensuring efficient and eco-friendly transportation. Meanwhile, a consumer electronics brand can streamline supplier assessments by using automated sustainability scoring, helping them partner with ethically and environmentally responsible manufacturers.

By enabling smarter supply chain decisions, low-code solutions help businesses reduce waste, cut emissions, and build a more sustainable, cost-effective logistics network—without disrupting existing operations.

Advantage 4: Enabling Circular Economy Initiatives

As businesses move toward more sustainable commerce models, circular economy initiatives—such as resale, refurbishment, rentals, and take-back programs—are becoming essential. These initiatives extend product lifecycles, reduce waste, and minimize reliance on raw materials. However, implementing circular models requires new workflows, reverse logistics, and seamless integration with existing commerce systems, which can be challenging with traditional IT infrastructures.

Low-code platforms allow businesses to quickly design and implement circular economy workflows without extensive development. By leveraging automation and integration capabilities, companies can launch and scale resale marketplaces, refurbishment tracking, and product returns without overhauling their entire commerce architecture.

• Streamline resale and recommerce operations by integrating second-hand product listings with existing inventory and PIM systems.
• Automate refurbishment tracking and quality checks to ensure returned or renewed products meet sustainability and performance standards.
• Simplify take-back and recycling programs by building automated return logistics workflows that connect with suppliers and recycling facilities.
• Enable product-as-a-service (PaaS) models by implementing flexible leasing, rental, or subscription-based commerce options with real-time usage tracking.

In practice, a consumer electronics brand can implement a device trade-in program using low-code automation to assess product condition, update inventory, and trigger refurbishment workflows. A fashion retailer can integrate a resale platform that automatically syncs second-hand product listings with existing stock data. Meanwhile, a furniture company can offer a rental and return service, using low-code workflows to manage customer subscriptions, schedule pick-ups, and assess product conditions before reintroducing items into circulation. By enabling circular economy models, low-code solutions help businesses extend product lifecycles, reduce waste, and create new revenue streams.

Advantage 5: Personalization for Sustainable Habits

Sustainability-conscious consumers are looking for eco-friendly alternatives, lower-impact purchasing options, and transparency in product sustainability claims. Businesses have an opportunity to guide these choices by offering personalized recommendations, eco-conscious fulfillment options, and clear sustainability data at every stage of the shopping journey. However, implementing sustainability-driven personalization requires real-time data integration, AI-powered decision-making, and automated content updates across multiple channels—a challenge for many commerce platforms.

Low-code platforms provide businesses with the ability to personalize customer experiences with sustainability in mind by integrating AI-driven insights, automated content updates, and flexible user experience (UX) adjustments without custom development.

• Highlight sustainable product alternatives by dynamically surfacing eco-friendly versions of items during the browsing or checkout process.
• Promote low-impact fulfillment choices by offering carbon-neutral shipping or local pickup options in real-time.
• Customize product detail pages with personalized sustainability messaging based on customer preferences or past purchases.
• Leverage AI-driven recommendations to suggest energy-efficient appliances, sustainable fashion choices, or refillable products based on a customer’s shopping history.

For example, a beauty brand can use low-code automation to offer personalized refills for previously purchased products, reducing packaging waste and encouraging repeat purchases. A home appliances retailer can integrate AI-driven suggestions to highlight energy-efficient models, tailoring recommendations to customers' sustainability preferences. Meanwhile, a grocery chain can dynamically promote locally sourced or organic products, using customer data to tailor marketing efforts toward environmentally conscious shoppers.

By integrating sustainability into personalization strategies, low-code solutions help businesses guide customers toward responsible purchasing decisions, enhance transparency, and strengthen brand loyalty—without adding complexity to commerce operations.

Advantage 6: Scalable Automation for Sustainable Operations

Sustainability is not just about products and supply chains—it also involves reducing operational waste, improving digital efficiency, and optimizing internal workflows. Many businesses still rely on manual, paper-based processes, inefficient energy usage in IT infrastructure, and disconnected workflows that increase costs and environmental impact. Scaling sustainability requires automation across business operations, ensuring that efficiency improvements extend beyond the customer-facing side of commerce.

Low-code platforms allow businesses to automate and optimize internal processes, reducing resource consumption, improving energy efficiency, and creating a more sustainable digital infrastructure—without expensive system overhauls.

• Digitize and automate paper-based workflows to reduce reliance on physical documents and streamline internal approvals.
• Optimize IT resource usage by automating cloud workload scaling, reducing unnecessary computing power consumption.
• Improve energy efficiency in digital operations by integrating real-time monitoring tools for carbon tracking across IT systems.
• Automate sustainability reporting by collecting and consolidating sustainability data from multiple business units into a central dashboard.

In practice, a multinational retailer can use low-code automation to eliminate manual reporting processes, ensuring sustainability data from suppliers, warehouses, and logistics is aggregated in real-time. A software company can integrate energy consumption tracking into its cloud infrastructure, automatically scaling services based on usage demand to reduce unnecessary energy consumption. Meanwhile, a fashion brand can implement paperless approval workflows across procurement and compliance teams, cutting down on unnecessary document printing and manual reviews.

By enabling sustainability through automation, low-code solutions help businesses reduce waste, improve digital efficiency, and scale environmental initiatives—without adding operational complexity.

Adopting Sustainable Commerce with Rierino

Sustainability is no longer a corporate aspiration—it’s a business necessity driven by regulatory mandates, consumer expectations, and economic benefits. Yet, for many enterprises, sustainability initiatives are hindered by rigid systems, complex integrations, and slow IT processes that make it difficult to scale and adapt. Low-code technologies remove these barriers, offering the flexibility, automation, and real-time adaptability needed to embed sustainability across commerce operations. Instead of waiting for costly replatforming projects, businesses can implement sustainability-driven workflows, optimize supply chains, and integrate compliance reporting—at speed and scale.

By leveraging low-code, enterprises can:

• Meet evolving sustainability regulations without disruptive system overhauls.
• Optimize supply chains and logistics to reduce waste and carbon emissions.
• Extend product lifecycles through automation-driven circular economy initiatives.
• Deliver sustainability-focused customer experiences with AI-driven personalization.
• Automate internal processes to create a more efficient and responsible digital infrastructure.

Rierino provides the low-code foundation for enterprises to drive sustainable transformation without IT bottlenecks. Our composable architecture enables businesses to integrate sustainability tracking, streamline compliance workflows, and orchestrate complex operations—all within a single, scalable platform. With real-time automation, AI-powered insights, and seamless integrations, Rierino empowers enterprises to take sustainability from an obligation to a competitive advantage.

Get in touch with our experts today to explore how Rierino can help you embed sustainability into your operations without the added complexity.