For companies and companies that sell products, delivery is a big problem, especially since the health crisis where the various confinements and restrictions have led to its development. But in times of climate emergency, of consumers concerned about their impact on the environment, how can we continue to deliver while reducing environmental costs? Here are some thoughts and solutions.
Just over seven in ten people (73%) say they are interested in responsible delivery options, according to a survey by Ifop for Star Services published in October 2021. This is good news when you know that online shopping is gaining momentum . especially since the pandemic and the various restrictions on movement. Since the incarceration in the spring of 2020, “the parcel market has grown three years in one year”says La Poste in an article in the World†
Problem: delivery has an ecological cost. Packaging, transport, traffic jams in trucks and other special cars weigh on the environment. For a billion parcels delivered to France every year, this is: 137,000 tons of packaging in our bins, again according to La Poste. A survey of the practice is then more than necessary, especially with regard to the “last kilometre”, which is particularly expensive in terms of CO2. Here are some tips and solutions.
† 25% CO2 emitted in the city is due to the transportation of goods. †
Source: Ademe
Stop “free” shipping
Like the journalist from the World Olivier Razemon, specialized in transport, a delivery is never “free”. It is at best a marketing argument to attract the consumer or, at worst, a way to cut costs for, usually, the person responsible for preparing the package or delivering it to a warehouse, a collection point or the buyer’s home. Yes, a delivery has financial, economic, human and environmental costs and the first thing that needs to be integrated at the end of reading this article is that we can no longer hide in the sand: companies have a duty to inform their customers. to inform about the impact of the delivery and to propose a transparent and fair cost calculation.
“It is quite possible to educate the consumer, for example by mentioning in the return policy, which is widely read, the environmental footprint generated by returning the product.”
Marie Chaudy, Reverse.io marketing manager for Maddyness.
Use a slower delivery method
Speed of delivery is an excellent marketing argument. But in wanting everything, we immediately forget an essential point: the planet cannot keep up with this frenetic pace. So to deliver better, you have to slow down. Take the time to optimize each flow, to make each parcel shipment profitable to avoid ten trucks leaving in 5 days, when just one at the beginning of the week would have been enough.
“You have to understand that the speed of delivery has a negative impact on the environment. The faster we go, the less we can consolidate and thus optimize flows. The greenest delivery is the slowest delivery.”
Jérôme Libeskind, Director of Logicités, in Les Echos
Rethinking the packaging and packages
You may have already come across the hashtag #excessivepackaging on social networks. The latter is used by internet users to expose the questionable packaging practices of certain companies.
So to avoid this name and shame audience, anticipate: rethink your packaging and packages. Objective: to take up as little space as possible, to avoid sending almost empty boxes and to offer recycled, recyclable and fully biodegradable packaging. You can also look for reusable packs, such as those offered by the company Hipli, or even the connected “Box” designed from recycled materials invented by the Nantes start-up LivingPackets.
Check your delivery method
Exit trucks, cars and other motor vehicles that not only pollute the atmosphere but are also responsible for many evils in urban space such as noise pollution. And this in addition to driving traffic jams and causing unsafety for pedestrians and cyclists.
Today there is no shortage of alternatives to relying on subcontractors who are committed to a more responsible way of delivery by bicycle, on foot or even via electric vehicles. For example, without being exhaustive, there is Mompe Transport in Paris, Vert Chez Vous, in the Paris region and in the south-west, Colis Verts in Clermont-Ferrand, Althus in Savoie, Aller-Hop, in Châteaubriant or even Les Coursiers nataïs . You can find other companies through this comparison suggested by The online journal.
Consider joint delivery
To reduce the impact of the last mile, some companies are using collaborative delivery. As the name suggests, this delivery method allows members of the same community or individuals to collect your purchases for you and deliver them to your home. The concept has already been adopted by Chronodrive, Cora, Auchan and E.Leclerc. Several startups offer this service such as Yper, the Courseur application, Cocolis or Shopopop. It’s up to you to find your happiness.