Among the most polluting industries, shipping accounts for many greenhouse gas emissions. According to CITEPA (Centre Interprofessionnel Technique d’Etudes de la Pollution Atmosphérique), light trucks account for 20% of GHG emissions from transport and heavy trucks vehicles account for 22% [1]. The last mile is the most costly stage, both economically and environmentally: it accounts for more than 20% of total delivery costs and is responsible for 30% of CO₂ emissions according to figures published by the Strategic Analysis Committee [2].

• Mainly because warehouses have moved further away from city centers, increasing the distance traveled: the average distance of parcel delivery agencies from the heart of Paris has increased from 6.3 km in 1974 to 18.1 km in 2010 according to the Institut Paris Région [3].
• Also, because most deliveries are home deliveries. The health crisis has led to a decrease in the number of deliveries made at pick-up points (68% of shoppers used this method in 2020 compared to 83% in 2018 according to FEVAD). This type of delivery has a very good carbon footprint when customers use clean mobility solutions (walking, public transport, cycling), which is mostly always the case in urban areas.
• And finally, because the order frequency has increased: while in 2011, French consumers ordered on average 1.2 times per month, they now order 3.5 times, which is almost three times more in less than 10 years [3].

The environmental impact of last mile logistics is affected by different elements, including: the type of vehicle, the vehicle fill rate, the number of trips required to deliver the customer, and the rate of return products (estimated at 10% or even 30% in some industries like textile).

At the end of the supply chain, the environmental impact of the last mile can be reduced by using innovative tech solutions, such as delivery route optimization solutions. In addition to lowering the operational costs of routes, this type of tool helps reduce CO₂ emissions generated by this activity by reducing:

• The number of vehicles used,
• The distance they travel,
• The amount of fuel they use,
• The number of empty trips made.

See how the technology developed by Kardinal is part of a sustainable logistics strategy

Some experts point out that one of the current challenges in making green logistics more available to the public is to raise consumer awareness. Consumers have increasingly demanding expectations regarding the speed of their delivery. In the case of e-commerce sales, they tend to choose fast deliveries without thinking about the environmental impact. We need to educate consumers to think about their choices (“Do I really need this product to be delivered within 24 hours? Can’t it wait a few days or even a few weeks?”, “Wouldn’t a delivery in a pick-up point be better than at home?”) and guide them towards a more eco-responsible delivery.

Brands also have a role to play in raising awareness and can, for example, inform their customers of the real cost of their delivery, including the environmental cost. A survey by the French Senate in May 2021 confirms this lack of information: 93% of respondents felt insufficiently informed about the environmental impact of the delivery of their online purchases [4]. About 90% of respondents expressed their wish to have this information and more than 85% thought that it would have an impact on their choice of delivery method.