http://www.greenlivingonline.com/Energy/online-xmas-shopping-takes-on-the-mall/
(Nov 21, 2007)
Is it greener to stay at home and order presents online or head to the mall? 
E-commerce growing
There’s no question that we are moving towards more online shopping. In the late 1990s, we spent a little more than $16 billion online annually. Last year that figure climbed to $220 billion and should be $260 billion in 2007
A report done by PriceGrabber found that consumers will be doing 50 percent of their holiday shopping online this year and that 71 percent of them are considering eco-friendly gifts.
In a recent survey by Shop.org and BizRate Research, 77 percent of retailers reported that their sales last year increased substantially on the Monday after Thanksgiving, now named Cyber Monday.
Environment is not the reason
But it’s not necessarily concern for the environment that is fuelling e-commerce. For many it’s the convenience of the web and the many bargains to be found. Still others are happy to avoid the crowds and crazy parking lots.
Online vs. mall
The jury is still out on whether online shopping is the greenest alternative. Since products are stored in one central location, e-stores need less space and consume fewer resources like heating, cooling and lighting. However, online shopping tends to lose its advantage with all the packaging and transportation required to get that purchase to your door.
That may change with ShipGreen. This newcomer offers a carbon neutral shipping alternative for online retailers and can calculate and offset the carbon emissions created by each product shipped. You can reduce the carbon footprint of each purchase.
Let the calculator decide
Two enterprising engineers, H. Scott Matthews and Chris T. Hendrickson, delved into the topic with their detailed report, Economic and Environmental Implications of Online Retailing in the United States, funded by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Using the book industry as their case study, Matthews and Hendrickson analyzed a generic scenario for traditional versus e-commerce. They calculated shipping distances, emissions from individual vehicles, the demands of retail space, airfreight transport vs. local truck delivery and the resources used to return goods.
Malls are more expensive
They found that the traditional system has a slightly higher overall cost, despite the benefit of immediate service. Mall costs rose significantly when unsold products were returned to the manufacturer. E-commerce won out because of the lower return rate.
Individuals driving to the mall contribute more carbon than delivery trucks, especially now that companies like Purolator have gone to hybrid vehicles. E-commerce became even more carbon friendly when air delivery was eliminated altogether. In the end the researchers concluded that "E-commerce sales have a cost advantage and environmental benefits."
Stay calm, you can still go to the mall
Obviously we are not going to stop going to the mall. But however you get your gifts, let common sense prevail. Don’t take long trips to the mall for a single item and avoid having your online purchase air-lifted to your home. Bundle shopping and ground shipping makes the mall and Internet greener.
Our favourite online stores
Here are some of our favourite stores to get you started on your Internet Xmas shopping!Equita Essentials: this online store stocks beautiful enviro friendly products from around the world. Voted one of the best online stores by Travel & Leisure Magazine Greenloop: This store sells the best of green and sustainable fashions. There’s a 50 percent holiday sale on. Essere Organics Inc.: this Canadian owned shop has a great selection of green products that include personal care products, home decor and wonderful line for baby. Shop Green Price Grabber: This website compares green prices for the most popular green products Gifts that Matter: lets you buy gifts that feed and support growing communities
Cebra Ethical Chic: Sells wonderful skin care products and products from developing nations Grassroots Store: Has oodles of green gifts and decor Shelagh McNally is the editor at Green Living Online.
Online Xmas shopping takes on the mall
Image: istockphoto.com/Luis Carlos Torres
E-commerce growing
There’s no question that we are moving towards more online shopping. In the late 1990s, we spent a little more than $16 billion online annually. Last year that figure climbed to $220 billion and should be $260 billion in 2007
A report done by PriceGrabber found that consumers will be doing 50 percent of their holiday shopping online this year and that 71 percent of them are considering eco-friendly gifts.
In a recent survey by Shop.org and BizRate Research, 77 percent of retailers reported that their sales last year increased substantially on the Monday after Thanksgiving, now named Cyber Monday.
Environment is not the reason
But it’s not necessarily concern for the environment that is fuelling e-commerce. For many it’s the convenience of the web and the many bargains to be found. Still others are happy to avoid the crowds and crazy parking lots.
Online vs. mall
The jury is still out on whether online shopping is the greenest alternative. Since products are stored in one central location, e-stores need less space and consume fewer resources like heating, cooling and lighting. However, online shopping tends to lose its advantage with all the packaging and transportation required to get that purchase to your door.
That may change with ShipGreen. This newcomer offers a carbon neutral shipping alternative for online retailers and can calculate and offset the carbon emissions created by each product shipped. You can reduce the carbon footprint of each purchase.
Let the calculator decide
Two enterprising engineers, H. Scott Matthews and Chris T. Hendrickson, delved into the topic with their detailed report, Economic and Environmental Implications of Online Retailing in the United States, funded by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Using the book industry as their case study, Matthews and Hendrickson analyzed a generic scenario for traditional versus e-commerce. They calculated shipping distances, emissions from individual vehicles, the demands of retail space, airfreight transport vs. local truck delivery and the resources used to return goods.
Malls are more expensive
They found that the traditional system has a slightly higher overall cost, despite the benefit of immediate service. Mall costs rose significantly when unsold products were returned to the manufacturer. E-commerce won out because of the lower return rate.
Individuals driving to the mall contribute more carbon than delivery trucks, especially now that companies like Purolator have gone to hybrid vehicles. E-commerce became even more carbon friendly when air delivery was eliminated altogether. In the end the researchers concluded that "E-commerce sales have a cost advantage and environmental benefits."
Stay calm, you can still go to the mall
Obviously we are not going to stop going to the mall. But however you get your gifts, let common sense prevail. Don’t take long trips to the mall for a single item and avoid having your online purchase air-lifted to your home. Bundle shopping and ground shipping makes the mall and Internet greener.
Our favourite online stores
Here are some of our favourite stores to get you started on your Internet Xmas shopping!
1 Comment
posted Feb 3, 2008 - 11:11 am by svenn martinsen
There is an important factor missing in this judgement: When taking all gifts that are unwanted into the account, that in case of purchased online will either be returned and transported back to the shop or be auctioned online and then transported to a new purchaser....What then? Probably will online shopping be the looser in that respect.
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