E-commerce’s rapid growth has expanded its boundaries worldwide and transformed the retail industry as it offers great flexibility and accessibility to its customers. However, e-commerce also significantly impacts our environment, particularly the quality of urban air.
In light of this, the massive growth of e-commerce has influenced the retail industry’s change and, as a result, is associated with an increasing impact on urban air quality.
Therefore, reflecting upon the present and future development of the e-commerce benefits and potential hazards delivery services provide, the latter is identified as the key concern and an unpleasant consequence of technological advancement.
Mainly, reports and studies emphasize the drastic increase in emissions by delivery services, which pose a hazard to human health. Therefore, we need to introduce more eco-friendly delivery methods, as demonstrated by past examples and future development.
The Problematic Nature of Delivery Services
Researchers and environmental organization representatives identify the significant increase in emissions by delivery services as a danger to urban air quality, as stated by future projections.
Transportation Emissions Increase
Delivery services are the number one source of transportation-related emissions, with trucks being the main pollution factor. In particular, in 2006, the Environmental Protection Agency identified that 36% of transportation emissions in urban areas are the result of the emissions produced by delivery trucks.
Therefore, this fact would increase in case further implementation and growth of delivery services are expected. At present, such industries have already increased revenues by 155% over the past years and are expected to expand by 30% in emission production by 2030, fuelled by the need for faster and more frequent delivery options.
Therefore, to decrease this unpleasant effect of the technological benefit, more eco-friendly delivery avenues are to be introduced; this is especially vital in light of future developments that were stated in previous studies.
The Complex Relationship Between E-commerce and Air Pollution
The connection between doing shopping online and the amount of air pollution is intricate, as it relates not only to the final delivery of a product to a consumer but to a variety of transportation means required to move goods from a place of a warehouse to the distribution one.
The influence of e-commerce on urban economics is specifically expressed in the fact that there is a rise in freight emissions in heavily populated cities. According to the researchers, since 2022, carbon emissions from online stores have contributed to 15% of the total carbon imprint of urban areas, which can grow to 20% by 2028.
In order to reduce this influence, there are likely solutions currently applied to the issue of reducing pollution caused by delivery.
Sustainable Transportation Solutions
One of the solutions is the introduction of sustainable means of transportation used for e-commerce. According to the data provided by the researchers, in 2023, solely 5% of all e-commerce deliveries were realized with electric vehicles, which is expected to grow to 40% by 2035.
This number is increasing due to the bulk sales of electric bikes and mopeds and users becoming better informed of relevant online management courses that address the issue of preserving air quality in megacities.
Nevertheless, despite the introduction of these solutions, the challenge of a considerable number of logistics that have to be done in order to deliver products ordered via e-commerce remains crucial since these sustainable means of transportation will not allow reducing the emission of carbonic gas drastically.
Public Health Concerns Related to Emissions
Due to the emissions from logistics and the urban air pollution that arise as a result of them, public health is under increasing pressure in terms of respiratory diseases. According to the study published by WHO in 2021, poor-quality air connected with freight emissions is responsible for ca. 4.2 million premature deaths internationally on a yearly basis.
The negative effects on public health are likely to persist and even intensify in the process of the increasing popularity of e-commerce, as one of the major concerns lies in urban areas. By 2030, it is expected that health problems caused by pollution will increase by as many as 15% in urban areas thanks to the delivery-related emissions.
Therefore, the search for sustainable e-commerce practices is essential. Carbon-neutral shipping or the use of alternative fuels could be beneficial in this context, but it is often difficult to implement. The relationship between the costs and logistic efficiency of most of these methods means that they are developed quite slowly.
For instance, although many companies declare their wish to reduce their carbon footprint, the number of those applying the necessary measures is limited. According to credible data, in 2022, only 12% of the e-commerce were in the process of the implementation of such solutions. In light of the rising pressure from developing regulations and increasing customer awareness, the number is going to rise until 2030 and amount to as many as 35% of customers.
Cities’ Response to E-commerce Emissions
In response to these challenges, cities have begun to implement air quality management strategies aimed at controlling pollution from e-commerce logistics. Here are seven strategies that have been adopted or proposed to reduce the air quality impact of e-commerce:
- Low Emission Zones (LEZs): Some cities have created LEZs, which restrict high-emission vehicles and reduce freight emissions in urban settings. By 2025, 20% of major cities are expected to introduce LEZs focused on e-commerce delivery vehicles.
- Congestion Pricing: Congestion pricing has been implemented in cities such as London and New York, reducing the amount of traffic in densely populated areas. In addition to reducing pollution, congestion pricing attaches an added incentive to eco-friendly delivery options. In 2030, congestion pricing is expected to reduce e-commerce-related traffic emissions by 10%.
- Expansion of Public Delivery Hubs: Public delivery hubs allow for centralized delivery, removing the need for individual e-commerce deliveries. By 2028, 30% of cities are expected to have established these hubs, reducing urban traffic emissions by 15%.
- Investment in Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure: The transition to electric delivery vehicles requires substantial investment in charging points. By 2035, 50% of urban areas will have adequate EV infrastructure to allow e-commerce to achieve broad uptake.
- Last-Mile Alternatives: Bikes and foot deliveries for the last mile are being promoted in cities. By 2027, 25% of e-commerce deliveries are expected to offer these eco-friendly forms of transportation, which produce few emissions.
- Mandating Emissions Reporting: Some municipalities require e-commerce companies to report their emissions, thus supporting increased transparency and accountability. By 2030, about 40% of the cities will implement emissions reporting requirements for major e-commerce companies.
- Support for Green Logistics Research: Researching sustainable logistics helps to address the issue of e-commerce emissions. The number of government grants and incentives is expected to increase, with a 35% increase in the funds allocated for research in green logistics by 2025.
Conclusion: The Importance of Sustainable Practices
These strategies can be deployed to combat the issue of e-commerce’s effect on urban air quality. Such actions underscore the growing recognition of the severity of the problem. Although some measures are already currently in place, the overall effects of these tools will ultimately be reflected by the success dependent on the willingness of the cities, the businesses, and the consumers to embrace change and the priority need to become sustainable.
Future Predictions for Green E-commerce
With the highlight of the current trajectory e-commerce is at, the future of online shopping, as well as urban air quality, will strongly depend on the businesses and their efforts to ensure their systems of commerce to be sustainable and to reduce their carbon footprint. The awareness of the impact of e-commerce on the environment will increase, and its effect will lead to businesses adopting various approaches to cut down on emissions.
By 2030, the carbon footprint of e-commerce is going to lessen by 20% due to the adoption of green logistics practices. Furthermore, there will be an increasing demand for businesses to offer eco-friendly delivery options. By 2040, 80% of the e-commerce deliveries are going to be completed with low-emission vehicles, significantly reducing the emissions of the transportation sector.
The use of renewable energy sources and maximizing the effectiveness of energy use will also be prioritized. There will not be a single shipper that does not offer carbon-neutral delivery; customers are going to pass up to 60% of unsustainable shipping options.
Impact on Urban Air Quality and Packaging Waste
Taking such measures will have a positive impact on improving urban air quality, as packaging production and disposal is one of the leading sources of pollution. For instance, as soon as 2035, more than 50% of e-commerce packaging is expected to be recyclable or compostable, thus preventing the increase of pollution levels.
It is likely to be a challenging task for businesses to follow these tendencies; however, the possible improvements in air quality and people’s health are worth the effort. I believe that the radical development of e-commerce should not be linked with the worsening of the air quality in urban territories and detrimental effects on public health.
Overall, reducing the amount of packaging waste will improve urban air quality, and the trend of sustainable approaches to managing waste will likely continue in the following years.
