As we ramp up for the e-commerce holiday shopping frenzy, it’s not just about snagging the best deals anymore. The environmental footprint of our online shopping sprees has come into sharp focus. With millions of packages crisscrossing the globe, the convenience of online shopping brings with it a sleigh-load of packaging waste and an expanding carbon footprint.
(Image: Actor Colin Firth enjoying Christmas presents and a gloriously ugly sweater in the movie “Bridget Jones’s Diary”)
As we ramp up for the e-commerce holiday shopping frenzy, it’s not just about snagging the best deals anymore. The environmental footprint of our online shopping sprees has come into sharp focus. With millions of packages crisscrossing the globe, the convenience of online shopping brings with it a sleigh-load of packaging waste and an expanding carbon footprint.
Unwrapping the Waste Problem
Let’s talk numbers. During the holiday season, packaging waste skyrockets. A statistic that might shock you is that 30% (or 82 million tons) of all garbage in the U.S. comes from packaging alone. It’s estimated that in the United States alone, the increase in holiday shipping can generate an additional 1 million tons of packaging waste, from cardboard to plastic air pillows, every week. As for carbon emissions, delivery vehicles puff out an extra 15 percent in CO2 during this peak time. This is the not-so-merry side of holiday cheer.
One of the most facepalm-inducing issues? Receiving a tiny item in a box big enough to house a small elf workshop. Besides being an outright wasteful mismatch, this common packaging faux pas contributes to the depletion of cardboard supply, triggering shortages that ripple through the supply chain.
Delays on the Horizon: A Labor Shortage Snowstorm
This season, businesses are bracing for a frosty challenge: an unprecedented labor shortage. The forecast is slower deliveries, more resources spent on expedited shipping, and a workforce pushed to its limits. The anticipated delays not only frustrate customers but also increase the environmental toll as companies scramble to meet demand, often opting for speed over sustainability.
Innovative Solutions: Tech to the Rescue
But it’s not all gloom and frozen logistics. Technology is buzzing with solutions that could redefine holiday shipping. Here are five innovative approaches that might gift-wrap a greener future:
Drones Delivering Joy (and Packages): Companies like Wing by Alphabet or Matternet are pioneering drone delivery services in metropolitan areas like Dallas-Fort Worth, Zurich, or Berlin. These aerial delivery options could slice through the holiday chaos, delivering packages swiftly and with a fraction of the emissions of traditional trucks.
(Image: Matternet drone base station to drop off packages for transportation by drones)
Smart Packaging: AI Meets Cardboard: Imagine a world where Artificial Intelligence designs your package based on the item’s dimensions and fragility. No more vast boxes for small items. This smart packaging revolution would conserve material and space, leading to more items in one delivery trip.
(Image: Amazon has reduced packaging weight by over 40% over the last years)
The Rise of Eco-Hubs: Think of these as Santa’s sustainable outposts. Strategically placed, they reduce travel distances for last-mile delivery. Powered by renewable energy and serviced by electric vehicles or cargo bikes, these hubs could significantly cut emissions.
(Image: The Swiss railways tested such a service with online orders delivered to lockers at train stations in 2013. I don’t know why they didn’t roll out the service, but I always thought this offline-last mile-for-online purchases made a lot of sense.)
Biodegradable Bonanza: For the packages we can’t eliminate or digitize, biodegradable materials offer an eco-friendly alternative. Some companies are already exploring fungi-based packaging or seaweed envelopes. As these materials break down harmlessly, they could turn the tide on holiday waste.
(Image: A few years back, I ran the UC Berkeley “Deplastify the Planet” course together with Mathieu Aguesse. Our winning team came up with new packaging made from food waste.)
Wrapping It Up
The 2023 holiday shopping season presents challenges and opportunities for e-commerce. While battling packaging waste, carbon emissions, and labor shortages, we’re also on the cusp of technological breakthroughs that promise more joy and less waste.
As businesses, it’s critical to stay informed, adaptable, and ready to embrace innovations that can make this holiday season not only more efficient but also kinder to our planet. Here’s to a future where the only footprint we leave is in the snow while we’re dashing through it with eco-friendly deliveries.