Many of us have made online purchases expecting home delivery only to discover that the packaging for simple items can be overly large and excessive, making what seemed like a sustainable shopping choice not as eco-friendly as we thought. Recently, I ordered something from Amazon, and it arrived in a plain cardboard box that was then placed inside an Amazon-branded cardboard box, secured with plastic bubble wrap.
While some packaging materials can be recycled, the main concern isn’t the packaging itself but the carbon emissions associated with the delivery vehicles used for transporting online purchases. Although getting deliveries right to your doorstep is convenient, there are several tips and tricks to help you shop sustainably online.
Here are five suggestions for more sustainable online shopping:
1. Think about substituting in-store shopping with online shopping. One significant way to adopt a sustainable approach to online shopping is to choose online instead of going to physical stores. Fewer vehicles on the road translates to reduced carbon emissions. You might want to use grocery delivery services like Instacart or Kroger delivery. A single delivery driver making 10 stops in an hour is far more environmentally friendly than 10 separate customers each driving to the grocery store in that same hour.
Additionally, this method could be more economical since you are likely to create a shopping list for online orders rather than mindlessly browsing store aisles and picking items that catch your eye, especially when you’re hungry.
2. Opt for slower delivery choices. Amazon presents various delivery options, such as Prime delivery and Free Amazon Day. If possible, consider choosing the free delivery day for all your orders.
According to Amazon, “This option allows Amazon more time to find an optimal delivery route, which usually leads to fewer deliveries. It also helps reduce the number of boxes used for shipping.” Over the last year, Amazon has managed to save over 136 million boxes due to customers opting for Free Amazon Day deliveries.
Moreover, if you select to receive your Amazon order on the Free Amazon Day, you could earn a six percent cashback on eligible purchases if you use a Prime Store Card or Amazon Prime Secured Card during checkout.
3. Purchase some items in bulk. Buying certain products, like non-perishable food items and household supplies, in bulk can enhance sustainable shopping. If you anticipate needing paper towels and toilet paper at month’s end, consider ordering the larger warehouse packages online. For instance, Costco offers Charmin toilet paper in 30-roll packages for $30. These can be ordered through InstaCart along with other bulk necessities you might want to stock up on. Bulk purchases not only minimize packaging waste but also cut down on emissions during delivery.
4. Think about purchasing secondhand items. Buying used products on Amazon is an excellent way to shop online more sustainably. Pre-owned and refurbished goods (often electronics) can be significantly cheaper, sometimes up to 50 percent off the price of a new item. You can find these like-new items on Amazon Renewed, covering categories like smartphones, laptops, and home appliances. This approach saves you money and prevents non-biodegradable products from ending up in landfills.
5. Attempt to reuse packaging at home. Even with various methods to limit packaging and shop more sustainably online, there’s often some sort of box that comes with your products. Instead of discarding the box, think about repurposing it at home. If you have children, allow them to use it for their crafting projects. If you’re attending a birthday party, consider wrapping a gift for the celebrant in the box. There are countless creative ways to reuse cardboard boxes, so let your imagination guide you.
How can I shop more sustainably online?
There are numerous ways to enhance the sustainability of your online shopping habits. Two simple methods include selecting longer delivery timelines and opting for online shopping instead of in-person visits.
How do I shop more sustainably on Amazon?
Although Amazon is among the largest online shopping platforms, you can still engage in sustainable shopping there. Consider choosing the Free Amazon Day Delivery option to minimize your packaging and delivery emissions. Additionally, look for used yet high-quality electronic items on Amazon, which helps keep them out of landfills.
How to shop sustainably online for clothes?
Shopping for clothes online can pose challenges, particularly regarding fit and the necessity of returning items. To shop sustainably for clothing online, seek vintage items at online resale platforms like Etsy. Additionally, look for sustainable brands that maintain transparent supply chains and produce items from renewable materials with ethical labor practices.
Does Amazon have a sustainable packaging option?
Certain products on Amazon are shipped using sustainable packaging. Look for items that benefit from Amazon’s Ships in Product Packaging initiative, which allows you to receive deliveries in their original packaging without extra fillers and boxes from Amazon. The retailer is also broadening its use of paper-based packaging, which can usually be recycled at home.
How to shop more sustainably on a budget?
Establishing and adhering to a budget is a crucial aspect of shopping sustainably online. Some strategies to help manage your budget include creating a list of necessary items and sticking to it to avoid unnecessary spending. Before finalizing an order, confirm during the checkout process that the prices are accurate and that any applicable discounts have been applied to the total amount.
Misplaced focus
Plastic has undeniably earned its negative reputation. The growing concerns about its effects on our health and the environment cannot be overlooked. However, there is a reason that plastic packaging continues to be the predominant choice for many products.
Plastic is generally safe and non-toxic for humans in most contexts, effectively protects items, and is inexpensive to mass produce. Furthermore, when examining the entire lifecycle of a product, plastic frequently requires significantly less energy compared to alternatives. In fact, research indicates that substituting plastic packaging with other materials—such as paper, glass, metal, and even bioplastics—can actually raise greenhouse gas emissions due to the high energy costs associated with their production processes.
Let’s examine paper packaging. Many people assume it is more eco-friendly because it is crafted from natural materials. However, it is, in reality, energy and water-intensive to manufacture, necessitates the cutting down of trees that sequester carbon, and if everyone switched to paper instead of plastic, it would create an immense and unsustainable strain on forests.
“Green” packaging options can also divert attention from the overall environmental impact of the products they encase. Consider the coffee and chocolate industries. Both have substantial carbon footprints from processing and global transportation.
When consumers see their favorite products wrapped in paper instead of plastic, they often believe they are making a more sustainable choice, yet the packaging is only a small part of the product’s overall environmental effect. A 2023 study regarding coffee formats suggested that coffee pods might actually be a better option than filter coffee, despite the increased packaging, as they yield the lowest ratio of coffee per cup.
Reduce, reuse or recycle?
The average shopper typically has a simplistic view of a product’s environmental impact, often overlooking upstream factors. Consequently, their assumptions about what is more beneficial for the planet may not always be correct. Legislation aims to address this by providing brands with clearer guidance. Nonetheless, even well-meaning policies can lead to outcomes that appear counterproductive.
Take, for instance, the new Extended Producer Responsibility regulations, which will require brands producing over 25 tons of packaging waste yearly to report and possibly pay fees for their packaging. Generally speaking, plastic packaging is lighter than paper and, in most cases, lighter than glass. There are concerns among paper and glass manufacturers that this could lead more brands to switch to plastic. However, it also encourages companies to minimize packaging, reducing unnecessary materials, weight, and features.