Analysis: as online shopping grows, we need to remember that it takes a tree over a month to absorb the carbon emissions of an express delivery

By Sabrina Zhang and Nikolaos Valantasis Kanellos, TU Dublin

We all get excited about the unmissable deal we just got in our inbox for a pair of trainers from our favourite brand and we want it delivered to our doorstep within the next couple of hours. But we get annoyed by the premium the retailer charged us for this express delivery, often with ‘no guaranteed’ delivery time.

But the real reason we should be getting annoyed is the size of carbon footprint we created simply by opting for next-day delivery. Would you still want next-day delivery if you knew that it would take a tree over a month to absorb the carbon emissions for this express delivery?

Read full article here https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2021/0323/1205657-next-day-delivery-online-shopping-carbon-footprint-climate-change-logistics/