The carbon footprint of stores is twice as large as e-commerce
According to EuroCommerce, 94% of the Dutch, 82% of the Germans and 82% of the French bought online in 2021. The volume of deliveries is exploding, as are the associated CO2 emissions. Should consumers, most of whom are aware of the climate emergency but are also inclined towards greater omnichannel convenience, give up one for the other? How can e-tailers reduce their ecological footprint?
Article by Bleuenn Féquant, published on September 23, 2022
…
While in 2019, only a small handful of major retailers, including Walmart, set GHG (greenhouse gases) reduction targets, in 2021 they were over 65. According to the 2021 report by delivery platform Seven Senders and Appinio, for both e-commerce and physical stores, production accounts for 30% to 90% of GHGs emitted per product depending on type. Distribution only represents between 2% and 10% of a product’s carbon footprint.
