Deranged Delivery
Two day shipping is convenient for you, but inconvenient for Earth.
Two-day shipping. One day delivery! Two-hour shipping. Have you ever gotten two-day shipping because it comes with your Amazon Membership? Or have you tried shopping programs that deliver you the outfit you want and return the ones you don't? Delivery is getting faster, although it comes at a cost. While it used to be less carbon-intensive than going to the market, it's rankings have moved up to 44 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. That statistic is only from Amazon! We'll explore what happens behind the scenes when you click buy-now, where your returns go, and how to cut down on trucking carbon.
"The stress that two-day shipping puts on the logistics system and therefore the impacts on the environment is quite colossal," reports Sharon Cullinane to CBC. Dr. Cullinane has been studying the environmental impact of shipping for nearly a decade at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. When we send shipments at two-day delivery speed as opposed to longer times, there is less time to corridor packages together. Every package mailed express costs 40 pounds of greenhouse gases. While the gratification of getting your delivery in a few days might seem like a lot, the lasting impact it has elsewhere is graver.
Now, many online stores are offering free returns, so you can get three sizes and return those two that don't fit. However, this, on its own, has a vital impact on the environment. Optoro, a delivery firm, found that "hauling around returned inventory in the U.S. creates over 15 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually." Additionally, the return rate of online orders is 20% higher in comparison to in-store products. While it may not seem to cost anything, returning your orders are churning up tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
You don't have to stop getting online goods to change your footprint. In theory, purchasing products online as opposed to a brick and mortar store conserves greenhouse gases according to an analysis by MIT. This is attributed to a variety of factors, including how you drive to the mall, the impact of the store's location, and how efficient parcel services are. However, this only works when you don't buy two-day shipping. Instead of rushing your order, consider if you really want to negatively impact the environment for convenience. Search for an "Eco" option or choose the latest delivery speed available. You'll help those companies improve their logistics, so they aren't sending half-full trucks and separate boxes.
Online shipping is two-sided. While convenience is much higher, the environmental impact can be much more notable. Still, the effect can also be much less than driving to your local mall or store to find the products you need. Next time you are searching Amazon at two in the morning, in the bathroom, or while cooking, take a reality check. Do you need that InstaPot tomorrow, or can you wait? Choose the eco option, or the most extended delivery window available. And when ordering clothes online, do your best to check the size you need rather than purchasing multiple sizes with plans to return the ones that don't fit. It's better for Earth.
