Belgian e-commerce sector unveils free sustainability scan for webshops
On Thursday, the Belgian e-commerce sector unveiled its latest step towards more sustainable online shopping with the launch of Check & Change. The free tool is designed to help webshops and merchants assess and improve their sustainability performance.
Check & Change was developed by federations Becom, Comeos and UNIZO, working with sustainability specialists and industry partners. With the tool, they aim to support local entrepreneurs become more resilient in a market where sustainable business practices are increasingly decisive.
The tool evaluates webshops across four categories: product, packaging, shipping and returns. After completing the questionnaire, merchants receive a sustainability score along with tailored recommendations for concrete improvements. It is entirely voluntary and intended for internal use only; consumers cannot access or view the results.
According to Unizo chief Bart Buysse, the scan gives self-employed entrepreneurs "clear handles to work on sustainable e-commerce". Comeos CEO Pascal De Greef described sustainability as "the future of trade" and called the tool a scientifically grounded support instrument for the sector.
Dutch standards
Check & Change draws on the Dutch Thuiswinkel criteria, a trustmark that indicates if a shop meets certain standards regarding rules & regulations, safety & security and financial stability. These criteria were then adapted to the Belgian context. The federations plan to regularly update the tool as legislation and sector standards evolve.
The development of the tool was supported by the Federal Public Service (FPS) Mobility. Minister for Digitalisation Vanessa Matz, who attended Thursday's unveiling, called the tool "a practical instrument that helps merchants make their webshops more sustainable" and one that strengthens the position of Belgian e-commerce.
Check & Change will be fully accessible to all Belgian merchants from 1 January 2026 via the website www.checkchange.be.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO LAURIE DIEFFEMBACQ
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