Some consistent general findings differentiating e-commerce and traditional shopping are:
| Shopping methods | Personal transportation | Packaging |
| Traditional shopping |
More Personal transportation using automobiles are generally energy inefficient compared to courier services |
Less Books are wrapped in bulk |
| E-commerce | N.A. |
More Books are further packed according to individual consumer’s purchase, on top of their primary packaging |
Most of us would conclude that e-commerce is more environmentally friendly as compared to traditional shopping. However, this conclusion is under the simplistic assumptions that:
- Consumers who visit brick-and-mortar shops are using private automobiles.
– They are not trip chaining or using public transport. - Consumers are living in areas (suburban) that necessitate the use of automobiles.
– They do not walk or cycle to places. - Consumers who are using e-commerce are purchasing responsibly.
– They do not exploit free return services and return their goods extensively or they do not opt for fast shipment.
– They plan their purchase well such, such that items can be bundled up together and not packed individually from every web store. - Packaging of online goods is sparingly used.
All the examples prove to show that there are many variables to consider when deciding which shopping method is preferable for the environment; and it is not always the case that online shopping is more environmentally friendly. Also, this blog only focuses on the ‘last mile’ perspective, but there are other processes involved in this supply chain that are not taken into consideration. Results may also differ when we take account into the size and types of goods (eg. perishables).
Perhaps, a better focus would be the sheer amount of trash and carbon emissions that we are generating due to our consumption habits – most of the times irresponsible – which are driven by the policies of e-commerce.