¡ALERT! ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION BEHIND THE DELIVERY OF YOUR ONLINE PURCHASES

E-commerce has soared in recent years, especially after the pandemic by COVID-19, the consumer preferences of users have changed. E-commerce is generating more environmental pollution than sales in physical stores, specifically in the number of plastics and packaging used, and in the carbon dioxide emissions generated by last-mile delivery, which has begun to concern the population.

Thanks to a study conducted by the organization Oceana Mexico, we know that "the expenditure for the management of unnecessary plastics from e-commerce was 53 million 446 thousand 474 pesos" (Santamaria, V., 2023, para.3). This sum could be better invested in supporting institutions or organizations that seek to combat climate change.

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What is happening?

As mentioned in previous paragraphs, the use of plastics and cartons for the packaging of products has increased drastically, this is since even though the products are already packaged, e-commerce giants such as Amazon, Mercado Libre, among others, repackage them for their shipments.

The plastics and packaging used in e-commerce repackaging are unnecessary, so much so that end users discard them, they are not recycled, and they become small microplastics that pollute the environment. With only the air cushions that Amazon used for the packaging of its items, in 2020 it used so many that would be enough to go around the world more than 600 times.

Another of the environmental problems of e-commerce can be seen in last-mile delivery. In previous years, we used to see fully loaded trucks arriving at physical points of sale or physical stores to deliver merchandise, and end users would go to these points of sale to make their purchases. Today, however, we see thousands of half-full or nearly empty trucks and delivery vehicles making home deliveries and generating an exorbitant amount of carbon dioxide emissions.

Studies reveal that last mile delivery is responsible for 25% of these emissions. As we continue to move forward in the digital age, it is imperative that the last mile industry evolves by finding a balance between efficiency, convenience, and sustainability to ensure a future where the last mile is a harmonious and beneficial component of our globalized society.

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How can we solve it?

The solution does not lie in inviting digital stores and e-commerce giants to replace their packaging with more environmentally friendly and biodegradable products, because at the end of the day these are also polluting, are unnecessary and would not be reflected in almost nothing.

To curb the environmental pollution caused by e-commerce, it is necessary to impose a law banning the use of unnecessary plastics for packaging. Countries such as Colombia, China, Chile, and India have managed to eliminate the use of plastics in e-commerce, and it is time for Mexico to position itself on that list.

Regarding last-mile delivery, technological advances have begun to support the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. The sale and use of electric vehicles in urban and residential areas is becoming more common, which have a lower impact on environmental pollution.

Countries such as Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States are working hard to implement drones for last-mile delivery by the end of 2024. Hand in hand with Prime Air, Amazon customers will be able to choose the option of having their packages delivered by drone.

The use of drones for last-mile deliveries helps us reduce the number of routes that delivery trucks must take per day and that generate hundreds of carbon dioxide emissions per day.

E-commerce has a great challenge to face, and it needs the support of governmental laws or fiscal incentives that encourage companies dedicated to online sales to eliminate plastic in their deliveries and implement new technologies in their last mile delivery that will contribute to our country reaching net zero in the short/medium term future.