Why? Because we have half-empty vehicles delivering parcels in super quick time, often just because it’s ‘free’.
Here’s why we should think twice:
PRIME FACT
Amazon Prime is ready to make 1 day shipping the DEFAULT. Will same day delivery be the new normal?
Each year billions of packages are delivered across the world - Amazon, alone, ships between 4bn and 5bn parcels a year worldwide.
Carbon emissions can be as much as 35 times greater than they would be with a one delivery trip than for a fully-loaded delivery. At those volumes that’s A LOT.
All retailers are trying to keep up with the one day tyranny. That means more vehicles, traffic, and emissions. All for a quick pair of socks.
‘Free’ returns are a killer too because people buy loads of stuff on the off-chance and then send it back. So that’s two wasted trips.
Ok got it. So how do I take action?
Things are changing and companies are working out ways to deliver carbon neutral. There’s cool stuff happening like being able to select supermarket shopping arriving at an eco-friendly time slot to tie in with other people in the area and Royal Mail using E-trikes instead of vans.
Before we click the button, let’s use this compass:
• Do I really need it?
• If yes, do I really need it immediately (even if fast delivery is free)?
• Are there other things from the same shop that I could buy to batch up my purchases?
• Have I designated a neighbour / requested a safe place for delivery that’s guaranteed?
• Am I relying on free returns for speculative shopping?
And for a quick bit of rebranding, how about we rename ‘standard’ shipping? Let’s call it ‘green shipping’ instead and feel good that we wait!
But will it cost me more money?
Well, if you leave Prime and similar services it might…but…when it comes to the planet, there’s no such thing as free.
We…
Aimee: I was a sucker for Amazon Prime and loved the immediacy. But it was just a habit - it’s no big deal to wait a few days and it means I only buy stuff I actually really want.
Sonia: I’ve dumped Amazon Prime (for more reasons than one). They haven’t noticed my act of defiance. But I have ;-)
Thank you to Ken Norris, for this week’s action!
“Convenience is the opposite of love”