For the last two decades E-Commerce showed a double-digit growth in Europe. Although consumers have a bad conscience when shopping online as the delivery & packaging seems to be not sustainable.
But is shopping offline really better than shopping online? That depends.
The independent study “Is E-Commerce good for Europe” (led by Oliver Wyman with the support of University of St.Gallen) commissioned by Amazon analysed that the CO2 impact of online shopping is lower than physical shopping - depending on the category.
Obviously physical stores need energy but also consumers going to the stores is a main CO2 driver. Retailers increasingly address both e.g. Aldi & Lidl but also IKEA opened more outlets within city centres and the electricity of all Rewe outlets is sourced with renewable energies. On the other hand online companies take actions to improve their carbon footprint.
The study highlights the complexity of comparing the pollution impacts of online and offline retail. Overall good news for future generations but even more a call towards retail to become more carbon-neutral.
More details you find here in the study.
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