This article from Earth.org discusses the environmental impact of online shopping:
Modern Consumerism: The rise of digitalisation and innovative technologies has transformed shopping habits, leading to a significant increase in online purchases. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated this trend, with global retail e-commerce traffic reaching record levels.
Environmental Impact: The boom in online shopping has led to severe environmental consequences. Packaging waste, particularly from plastics and paper, has surged, contributing to CO2 emissions and pollution. In China, the e-commerce industry generates massive amounts of waste, with millions of tons of plastic and paper waste produced annually.
Shipping Emissions: The transportation of goods for online shopping is a major source of CO2 emissions. Fast shipping options, which are increasingly popular, exacerbate this issue as delivery companies often send out partially filled trucks to meet tight deadlines, leading to higher emissions.
Consumer Responsibility: Both corporations and consumers share responsibility for the environmental impact of online shopping. While companies are developing more sustainable practices, a significant change in consumer behavior is essential to mitigate the negative effects. Consumers need to prioritize sustainability over convenience to help reverse the current trend.
Source:Â https://earth.org/online-shopping-and-its-environmental-impact/
