There is no single answer
People often ask whether online shopping is better or worse for the environment than going to a shop. The honest answer is that it depends. Studies and comparisons tend to reach different conclusions because the result changes with the situation: how far you would have travelled, how you would have travelled, how many items are in the order, and how often things are sent back. Anyone who claims one option is always greener is simplifying.
What can be said is that several factors shape the footprint of a delivered item, and you have some influence over most of them.
The main factors
The last leg of the journey. Moving goods in bulk to a warehouse or depot is typically efficient per item. The final trip to your door can be less so, especially when a van makes a single stop for one small parcel. A delivery round with many stops close together tends to be more efficient per parcel than a series of separate trips.
How you would have shopped otherwise. If you would have driven a long way to a shop for one item, a delivery may well involve less travel. If you would have walked or cycled, or combined the trip with others, a delivery may add to your footprint. Walking and cycling for everyday errands are among the lowest-impact ways of shopping, which is worth remembering for small, nearby purchases.
Speed. Rush delivery often means less efficient routing and sometimes transport that is more resource-intensive, since consolidation is harder to do. Choosing standard delivery, or a nominated day, can give carriers time to group deliveries, though the size of the benefit is not always clear.
Returns. A returned item means a second journey, and sometimes handling and repackaging. Items that cannot be resold may be discarded. Returns are particularly common in clothing where people order several sizes. Reducing returns by checking size guides, reading reviews and ordering what you intend to keep is one of the more practical steps.
Batching. Combining items into a single order, where that does not delay something you need, can reduce the number of parcels and the packaging used.
Failed deliveries. If no one is home, a second attempt is another trip. Delivery to a pickup point, locker or neighbour may avoid this, though if you drive a long way to collect a single parcel, that can cancel out the benefit.
Packaging: protection matters
Packaging has a bad reputation, and some of it is unnecessary. But it also has a job. Protecting a product from damage prevents waste, because a broken item that must be replaced typically has a bigger footprint than the packaging that would have protected it. This is a trade-off, and it is the reason that simply removing packaging is not always an improvement.
Some common issues:
- Oversized boxes and filler. A box much bigger than the item needs more material and carries less per trip. Sellers sometimes use more filler than necessary.
- Mixed materials. Packaging that combines plastic, paper and foil can be hard or impossible to recycle. Mailing bags with plastic lining or padded envelopes are a typical example.
- Single-use plastic. Plastic film, bubble wrap and air pillows are lightweight and protective, but they are often not accepted in kerbside collections. The wider issue of plastic pollution is one reason many people try to avoid them where possible.
- Compostable and biodegradable claims. These can be unclear and may only work in industrial facilities, so they are not always better. The details of compostable packaging are complicated and depend on local collection.
- Cardboard. Plain cardboard is usually widely recyclable, provided it is clean and dry, though the fibres can only be recycled a limited number of times.
When you receive packaging, reusing it for storing, posting or moving items is usually better than recycling it at once. Recycling is helpful, but it is still worth checking local rules to avoid recycling contamination, such as flattening boxes, removing tape if requested and keeping paper dry.
What you can do as a customer
- Ask whether you need it. The most efficient purchase is the one avoided, and borrowing, buying secondhand or getting something locally may meet the need.
- Consolidate orders and choose standard delivery when you can wait.
- Reduce returns by checking sizes, measurements and reviews first.
- Pick a convenient collection option if it is genuinely on your way, rather than making a special trip.
- Choose sellers who use sensible packaging. Look for right-sized boxes and recyclable materials, and give feedback when packaging is excessive.
- Be cautious about green delivery claims. Phrases such as carbon-neutral shipping often rely on offsets, which have limits, and may not reflect real reductions. A vague line on a checkout page is a typical example of the greenwashing claims worth questioning.
Be careful about guilt
Delivery is part of how many people manage disability, illness, caring duties, rural living or lack of transport, and it is not something to feel ashamed about. The aim is to make choices where you have a choice, not to avoid delivery altogether. Small habits such as fewer, planned orders and fewer returns tend to be more useful than worrying about any one parcel. Larger gains usually depend on how retailers and carriers organise their systems, which individuals cannot control, so it is reasonable to treat your own choices as a modest contribution rather than a complete solution.