How Can You Go Green While Shopping Online?

Since the last decade, online shopping has become really popular, but people don’t really know if this has a positive or negative impact on the environment. As citizens around the world are aware of how badly we are damaging our environment, steps are being taken to go green while shopping for goods online. There’s no doubt that online portals allow us to order online, get our products delivered quickly and attract customers with speed, convenience and flexibility. It’s probably the reason why online grocery shopping in Islamabad is so popular. 

There’s good news who like to shop online. According to a study conducted by MIT, online shopping is more eco-friendly than in-person shopping. But, the study also found out that online purchasing is only beneficial to the environment, as compared to in-person purchases when the shopping store is more than 2 miles away. The travel costs need to be considered while creating a green online shopping way. 

Going green while online shopping is a trial and error process. Here are a few tips to go green as you conduct your online shopping:

Bulk Purchases! 

With every trip, the environmental costs increase. So, to minimise your ecological footprint, you need to start shopping in bulk. You also need to order from companies that use disposable or reusable packing as while the travel environmental cost decreases, the plastic for packing items increases. You can also ask them to reduce the use of plastic to minimal while delivering your order so they know your preference and can follow accordingly. Don’t shy away from these requests, it’s your planet, it’s up to you to protect it for your future generations. 

Avoid Express Delivery: 

Express shipment methods create more environmental footprint than standard shipping. It’s obviously attractive to get your purchases to you as soon as possible but if your express delivery incorporates air travel, then you will be contributing to a lot of carbon emission. Opting for a slower delivery method is an excellent way to go green. 

Think Before You Order: 

Start making a wish list so you don’t order products multiple times. Each trip increases waste and your carbon footprint. So, every time you add an item to your list, see if you already have it enlisted and if you actually need it. Impulsive ordering can be disastrous for the goal you’ve set! If you use these delivery apps correctly, they can become a powerful tool in helping you go green during online shopping. So, always choose sites that let you have a wish list and can serve all your shopping needs so you have to order from only one place. 

Minimize Returns: 

One of the most prominent features that have attracted people to shopping online is that the retailers have started a return policy with the customer having to pay nothing for it. (Usually). The problem is that these returns increase a product’s environmental cost. When a product is returned, it is usually thrown or sold at a lower rate. According to studies, in the garment industry, the returns are thrown away or incinerated. 

Look for Eco-Friendly Retailers: 

The retailers that produce products following eco-friendly activities should be the ones you should purchase from. Organic and fair-trade certifications indicate that the product is environmentally good. There are also Plastic Neutral certifications that retailers use to indicate that they compensate for the amount of plastic used in their business. So before ordering, check out the retailer’s websites to find out where they stand on protecting the environment.