Strategies to Minimize Carbon Footprint in E-commerce Delivery

There is a growing commitment by every facet of life to achieve a sustainable environment and the e-commerce industry is not left out. Every player of the industry has the responsibility to see that e-commerce practices and delivery are eco-friendly. For this reason, the subject matter of green logistics is gaining more attention and adoption. 

The goal is to reduce the carbon footprint while customers get their ordered items with ease. This is super important as it minimizes adverse effect on plants, public health and the climate. It can be seen as a way of keeping plants, customers and the environment healthy. Green e-commerce is achievable as there are laid out strategies that can help minimize the carbon footprint during delivery.

Eco-friendly Packaging

Let’s kick it off from the packaging even before the item hits the road. It’s best for e-commerce brands to utilize the dynamics of eco-friendly packaging. It involves the adoption of packaging practices with minimal environmental effects. Here is a further breakdown. 

The Use of Biodegradable Materials

Biodegradable materials are known to be catalysts for low-carbon emissions. These materials are easily broken down naturally, hence they are not toxic to the environment. Some of these material include;

• Cardboard/compostable paper: Perfect fits for boxes and cartons 
• Biodegradable bubble wrap: A perfect cushioning material for items loaded onto vehicles 
• Bioplastics: They are better off traditional plastics as they are biodegradable, hence minimizing carbon emission.
• Mycelium: These are biodegradable protective materials for packaging fragile items. 

The Use of Returnable Packages

Returnable packages are designed for durability and flexibility so that they can be used for multiple deliveries. The one-off packages will need to be recycled or discarded leading to increased waste that boosts the carbon footprint. Therefore, returnable packages minimize the production of packaging waste and in turn, lead to low-carbon delivery. 

The Use of Recyclable Materials 

Recyclable materials promote lower carbon emissions in two ways. One is the reduction in the production of packaging materials from the raw state. The production involves high usage of energy which increases the carbon concentration in the environment. Hence, recycling helps to cut short such production operations. 

The other aspect is the reduction of waste. Recycling helps divert materials that would have been stored up as waste into useful materials. Waste increases the carbon footprint in the environment and one key initiative is to reduce these wastes. 

Green Transportation Methods

The mode of transportation during delivery is a key factor in the concentration of carbon in the environment. Traditional transportation modes utilize the large volume of fossil fuels which emits large volumes of carbon. The green transportation method is one that focuses on cutting down the use of fossil fuels. They include the use of electric delivery trucks which are powered by electricity. Hydrogen-powered vehicles are also fit for low-carbon delivery. They provide a way for delivery trucks to eliminate fossil fuel usage. 

Urban delivery solutions can also be an effective initiative. This includes the use of bicycles or a walk-along delivery within short distances. The bicycle and pedestrian delivery methods are super efficient for cases where the product locations are very close to the customers. 

Eco-friendly Warehousing

Green warehousing is part of the sustainable initiative in e-commerce logistics. It focuses on the elements of the warehouse building being eco-friendly. One area is the adoption of renewable energy for its operation. This will cut down the use of fossil energy and minimize carbon.  emissions. Renewable energy includes solar energy/panels, wind energy, etc. 

Efficient Route Optimization

Planning and analyzing the pathway or delivery route has become a mainstay practice for high-flying e-commerce brands. It’s past the era where there are several uncertainties in this area as route optimization helps to predict possible outcomes along a particular route. Route optimization can be done using high-end optimization software and it plays a part in minimizing the carbon footprint. 

Efficient route planning will help organize trips and deliveries. As a result, deliveries can be made to multiple locations in one journey. Minimizing multiple trips reduces the frequency of delivery vehicles on the road and in turn, reduces carbon emissions.

Route optimization will help minimize the miles traveled by delivery vehicles. It takes account of possible factors that can lead to delays on the road. This will help put remedial measures and ensure shorter travel times. When the travel time is short, a lower volume of carbon is emitted from delivery vehicles. 

Collaborate with DeliverThis for Green E-commerce Delivery

DeliverThis is a regional carrier with a focus on Los Angeles, Dallas, Arizona, and other close by cities. We are a brand that believes in sustainable e-commerce, striking the right balance between delivery efficiency and the environment. The responsibility to minimize the carbon footprint for the sustenance of the environment lies on every player in the industry, and we are at your service to fulfill this course. 

Let DeliverThis be your regional carrier as we continue to implement strategies that will have a positive impact on the industry and environment.