More and more people are buying their products online, and not just after the pandemic. Between 2014 and 2018, online commerce (or e-commerce) grew by more than 50 percent and this trend has undoubtedly increased in recent years, when some shops have even had to remain closed. The extent to which this behavior will persist is difficult to assess at this time. In addition to problems such as empty pedestrian zones and the extinction of traditional shops, which online commerce favors, another important question arises for many people in times of climate change: how bad is online shopping compared to shopping in pedestrian zones or shopping centres, and what can consumers do to shop more sustainably on the Internet?
It becomes clear that this question is not easy to answer when trying to understand the path of a finished product to the final consumer in a simplified way. In conventional trade, the majority of finished products are stored after production, possibly via intermediaries, and then purchased from the respective specialist shops. At this point, transport routes are already needed. The goods are then displayed in the respective specialized shops, often lit and heated, until the final purchase is made by the final consumer. After the goods have been transported to their respective end consumers, they have finally reached their destination, provided they are not exchanged again.
Online trading is generally not associated with lower emissions
Now it would be obvious to assume that online commerce is associated with lower emissions, since many products are transported directly from the warehouse to the final consumer without passing through specialized shops. But it’s not that simple. On the contrary: the question is so complex that it can hardly be answered in general.
Because reality shows that in some industries, such as the garment industry, half of all goods are returned, resulting in high emissions of packaging and other transportation. Parcel distribution is also complex, with often only half-loaded delivery vans arriving. In addition, online department stores are building huge new warehouses covering several football pitches, and searching for goods on the Internet is also associated with measurable emissions, depending on the time spent. Furthermore, some consumers first take advantage of the assortment offered by conventional retailers to evaluate a product, which they then order cheaper on the Internet.
In order not to completely lose track of things and to consume as sustainably (online) as possible, consumers can follow the following basic rules:
When purchasing goods that require special skills or need to be tried on, a regional specialist shop should be supported. Internet purchases should be done consciously. It makes sense to go in search of a specific product and online shopping should be prevented from becoming a secondary leisure activity that consumes time and energy.
Think about the creation process and product lifecycle from start to finish
It can also be helpful to find out how goods are produced. To do this, it makes sense to think through the creation process and product life cycle from start to finish. What raw materials are used, how resource intensive is the production, transport, use and disposal or reuse of the product? It is important to know that there are seals or certificates for some industries that certify a resource-saving approach and that comparison portals can also help you to buy high-quality and durable goods that are delivered in sensitive packaging. Maybe a second hand product is also an option? Furthermore, it must be ensured that express shipping or 24-hour shipping is only selected if it is really needed. This type of shipment complicates the logistics processes of suppliers, so vehicles that are not fully loaded are more frequent.
Last but not least, anyone shopping should be aware that any type of consumption leads to emissions and that sometimes less is more. In general, barrier-free online shopping leads to increased consumption, which must be viewed critically from an ecological point of view.
Note: The Office for the Environment, Energy and Climate Protection regularly provides useful tips for sustainable behaviour, climate protection and energy saving. The environmental and climate tip is published once a month in our press newsletter.
(Text: PM Municipality of Offenbach)
