Everyone from Congress to the local pre-k has been talking about ways to improve the world we live in. Green space, recycling programs and sustainable resources dominate headlines and our Amazon carts. According to Amazon, “Online shopping is inherently more environmentally friendly than traditional retailing.” But is it really? There are a multitude of factors that come into play when calculating the carbon footprint of eCommerce versus traditional retail.
How far did the shopper drive? Did they go to multiple stores? Do they have to take a return back to the store if they don’t want it or want to exchange it? Did the shopper do research online before coming to the store? According to the site Business of Fashion, eCommerce orders conducted solely online (from ordering to how returns are handled) yield a 50 percent less carbon footprint than a traditional shopper traveling from store to store.
But are people only shopping online? Not so! Only 12 percent of shoppers shop solely online, the other 88% are a mix of traditional shopper and eCommerce. The most popular category being shoppers who do their research by “trying out” a product in a brick and mortar location and then buying online.
So is eCommerce better for the environment? The short answer? Maybe. The longer answer? Read on to find out how.
Director of Marketing & Media
Kristin loves coffee and reading, in that order! She drinks the coffee and makes the things for eGlobalUSA.
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