How to reduce your carbon footprint

The environmental impact of online shopping is one which affects each and every one of us– and something that to a certain extent, no matter how small, we’re all complicit in. If you’ve ever ordered something on the internet, whether it was from Amazon or from a local, sustainable brand, you’ve participated in an environment of ecommerce that can (at its worst) promote overconsumption and an attitude of disposability towards goods and services. The science is in-  environmental issues caused by businesses have a measurable effect on the health of our planet and ecommerce impacts ecological circumstances more and more each year, especially during the pandemic.

Is ecommerce bad for the environment?

Let’s look at the facts- In 2019 alone, Amazon by itself created 495 million pounds of plastic waste. That’s tons and tons of non-biodegradable single-use plastics floating around in landfills and our oceans. Millions of pounds of bubble wrap and cushioning air bags and shrink-wrap packaging. Meanwhile, the amount of cardboard packaging produced every year represents the yield of almost one billion trees. This isn’t even taking into account the transportation of all the goods which require the aforementioned packaging- growth in the realm of last-mile delivery is projected to increase carbon emissions by 30% by the year 2030. It’s no secret that when it comes to humanity’s carbon footprint ecommerce climate change is a massive contributor.

Why is this only a problem all of a sudden?

You may be wondering what all the sudden fuss is about. After all, it was only recently that business environmental impact became a hot-button topic in the news. If you look at the fact that e-commerce has only grown exponentially over the past two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, however, the rationale behind it becomes far more clear. The problem has become big enough fast enough that the problem has become impossible to ignore. As scientists, governments, and everyday people are working tirelessly to develop carbon management software to ensure our ecological footprint shrinks instead of grows over time, it’s becoming increasingly necessary to take a hard look at industries we don’t immediately think of when it comes to the topic of business environmental issues.

How can you as a merchant do your part?

How can retailers reduce carbon footprint and CO2 emissions? There’s a number of things you can consider. Shrink your packaging and see that it’s made of sustainable materials. Be transparent with your customers, as the ecological impact is becoming more and more of a deciding factor in whether someone makes a purchase. And do your best to deliver a quality product so that returns are minimized as much as humanly possible. Even small changes can make a big difference when you add them up. Choose the ecologically friendly path, and watch how it pays off for your business.

In conclusion

We here at P2Pseller are committed to bringing about the e-commerce revolution through a democratized and decentralized approach to warehousing and fulfillment. This includes reducing ecological impact by ensuring our customers can look for local solutions and most effective delivery options. Of course, solutions for our current issues typically lie far outside the realm of consumption and buying the “correct” things and more in the realm of policy, but avoiding unnecessary carbon emissions and the use of harmful single-use materials can only help. If this interests you, you can make a free account with us today in order to browse our offerings and see what we can do for you and the planet.