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Although the digital era has brought benefits it's important to acknowledge that the growth of online shopping has its downsides. A study presented at the 2011 International Conference, on Environmental Science and Engineering emphasized that while the internet offers opportunities for material and energy conservation we cannot claim that eCommerce is exclusively beneficial for the environment. For every advantage there is often a negative impact. It's crucial to recognize that each sector of online shopping along with its supply chain poses challenges.
Online shopping may reduce emissions resulting from customers commuting to stores. Emissions from delivery trucks, planes and other means of transportation remain a concern. The distance between customers and distribution centers can greatly affect these emissions. While scale wholesale businesses are better positioned to minimize transportation emissions it may not always be feasible for businesses. In todays business landscape there is an emphasis on immediacy in shipping. Consequently businesses sometimes send out filled shipments which require trips and contribute to increased transportation emissions.
Every item being shipped requires packaging. However the surge in online shopping has led to a rise, in cardboard usage.
Companies strive to ensure that their products are delivered to customers in condition, which often leads to the use of packaging materials such, as styrofoam peanuts or extra paper. The consumers desire for satisfaction can result in frequent small orders rather than consolidated larger ones contributing to packaging waste. Despite the fact that most packaging materials can be recycled, a study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2018 revealed that only about half of the 82,000 tons of containers and packaging produced in the U.S. Were recycled, with 30,000 tons ending up in landfills.
Not all online purchases meet customer expectations. Whether it is due to discrepancies between representations and reality issues or damage during transportation returns are common in eCommerce. These returns have an impact due to increased emissions, from transportation and concerns related to packaging waste. When an item is returned it essentially doubles the transportation involved. If exchanged or replaced it triples the emissions generated. Moreover the original packaging may not be reusable leading to waste generation. In scenarios at three separate shipping labels are typically used.
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