For years, more and more people have been ordering online. But that is not always advantageous. In some cases, online shopping is more harmful to the climate than brick-and-mortar shopping.
More and more online retail is displacing more and more brick-and-mortar retail. The most recent example is groceries, which have recently increasingly been ordered online. In addition to the consideration of whether one should buy regionally, the question of climate protection is increasingly being added to consumer behavior.
Many crucial factors
But what is more harmful to the climate? Order things online or shop in-store? What is crucial, as Günther Lichtblau from the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) explained to the Austrian daily newspaper Der Standard, is where one draws the line in one’s consideration. It is therefore crucial whether the transport routes of the products are taken into account for a comparison. Another crucial factor is the behavior of consumers. This particularly includes returns. Because online trading leads to more returns, says Lichtblau.
As Quarks.de explains with reference to an projection by the Oeko-Institut, online shopping can in some cases be more climate-friendly than shopping in-store. For example, shoes ordered online often have a better carbon footprint than those purchased in brick-and-mortar stores. The reason is the high energy consumption of department stores and shops. However, this statement cannot of course be generalized. Ulrich Gromke from the Federal Environment Agency also confirmed this to Quarks. Ultimately, numerous factors affect the CO2 balance, such as the product itself, its individual steps in the supply chain and the shipping packaging size.
Online trading has one major disadvantage
Packaging represents a major challenge, especially in online retail. Packaging waste is increasing overall due to online shopping. This is also shown by a study by the returns management research group at the Otto Friedrich University in Bamberg, according to which almost every fourth package was returned in Germany in 2022. In a European comparison, Germany ranks first when it comes to returns.
Quarks also points to socio-economic factors, such as the often notoriously poor working conditions of warehouse workers and drivers, which should be taken into account in a discussion about online retail.
The most important factors in stationary retail
According to the UBA, the most important climate protection adjustment screws in stationary retail are local energy consumption and customers’ choice of means of transport. In online retail, shipping packaging waste and the final delivery section to the front door should be particularly reduced (e.g. through packing stations). According to a UBA study, 180,000 to 370,000 tons of packaging waste could be saved per year in mail order packaging in Germany.
The EU Commission has taken up this issue and published a draft regulation, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), at the end of 2022, which aims to minimize negative environmental impacts from packaging. In April 2024, a majority in the EU Parliament was reached for the provisional agreement and the project was passed on in the trilogue negotiations. An agreement is expected later this year.
The product itself makes the difference
Up to 75 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions in the life cycle of a product are emitted during production, explains the Federal Environment Agency with reference to a study carried out specifically for this purpose. Transport and trade only account for a small part of one to ten percent of total emissions, according to the UBA.
UBA President Dirk Messner explains: “Whether we shop online or in a store is not that important for our climate footprint. The biggest adjustment screw for ecological purchasing are long-lasting products that are manufactured in an environmentally friendly way. Ideally, I can also get them in the store around the corner “which I can easily reach by bike or on foot”.
The UBA draws attention to environmental labels to help consumers. Although these have not yet been adequately represented in online retail, they could support consumers in sustainability considerations in the future through, for example, information about the availability of updates, service life or repairability of the products. Lichtblau recommends: Pay attention to seasonality and regionality and prefer retailers who openly communicate environmental aspects. In general, it is important to shop more consciously.
Editorial team finanzen.net