The environmental cost of delivery

Making every step of your delivery sustainable

Australia is one of the highest polluters and largest Co2 emitters worldwide per capita, accounting for 3% of global Co2 emissions. The transport and delivery sector is one of the biggest contributors to environmental pollution in the country. While doorstep delivery of goods within hours from ordering offers ease to customers, the environmental cost of delivery is high.

Businesses face the environmental challenge of reducing their carbon footprint and making their delivery greener. If your brand offers doorstep delivery to customers, read on to find out how delivery impacts the environment and the steps you can take to make delivery sustainable.

What is the environmental cost of delivery?

The convenience of fast delivery is taking a toll on the environment. Fast delivery requires a higher number of resources and consumes more energy, making it especially carbon-intensive.

Increase in carbon emissions

An increase in the number of delivery vehicles leads to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions, which is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. According to a study by the World Economic Forum, last-mile deliveries will cause related emissions to rise by 30% in 100 cities globally.

Product packaging waste

The growth of deliveries in e-commerce has resulted in a sharp rise in plastic and Styrofoam packaging waste. Both these materials are non-biodegradable and harmful to the environment. The use of plastic packaging will continue to rise and reach an estimated 4.5 billion pounds by 2025.

Refrigeration emissions

Transporting goods that require refrigeration is even more environmentally harmful. Refrigeration uses more energy, so a refrigerated delivery service vehicle generates higher emissions. 

How can you make delivery sustainable?

As a brand, devising a plan for eco-friendly delivery should be your top priority. Not only will it help in reducing your carbon footprint, but it will also enhance your brand image. 73% of consumers in Australia are willing to pay more for brands that demonstrate sustainability and eco-friendly practices.

By adopting a few accessible practices, you can make every step of your delivery sustainable.

Use eco-friendly vehicles or other fuel sources

Last-mile deliveries use the most resources. You can use electric vehicles for these deliveries or use vehicles that use other fuel sources such as biodiesel to cut down on carbon emissions. 

Choose green and sustainable packaging

Using greener and more sustainable packaging options can help you avoid contributing to packaging waste. You can use materials like compostable mailers, cornstarch packaging, air pillows, recycled paper, and corrugated cardboard.

Plan better delivery routes

You can significantly reduce your carbon emissions by outsourcing delivery to companies like Drive Yello. Drive Yello is a last-mile delivery solution that helps businesses bundle their order more efficently. This means that the same vehicle is likely to be delivering many more parcels on one trip, significantly reducing your company’s carbon footprint. Besides sustainability, choosing the shortest and most efficient routes will bring benefits like faster delivery and cost reduction.

Drive Yello offers top-of-the-line delivery services that let you customise your last-mile delivery solutions based on your business’s needs. We offer fast delivery, tracking, visibility and other services to help you increase customer satisfaction.

Sign up with Drive Yello today!

‍