As we approach Earth Day celebrations, the celebrations are bound to be different, as have been all other celebrations in the past two years. Amid the ongoing pandemic, most people have been forced to rethink how they go about their lives, changes which called for minimized human contact. With this, businesses have been forced to embrace the delivery of their goods and services to their customers’ doorsteps.
However, many have been calling to question the sustainability of this delivery-driven way of doing business, citing the unseen effects it has on the environment. From increased greenhouse gas emissions to pollution of waterways and plant covers with littered packages, the rise in delivery services is seen as a silent threat to the sustainability of our ecosystem.
The Growth of On-Demand Delivery Services
As talks of conscious delivery services are bound to take centre stage in the build-up to Earth Day, we have to contend with the fact that we can’t do away with these delivery services. Just like the growth in demand for fossil-based fuels in the past, the world had to adjust once it realized the dangers that were brewing up due to the same. However, this didn’t mean that the use of fossil-based fuels had to be abandoned entirely.
As we become increasingly used to enjoying the comfort and convenience of delivery service, we clearly can’t contend with a future that’s deprived of these services. From both a business and a customer perspective, we have options for things we can embrace to ensure we create a sustainable future with practices of conscious delivery.
Overcoming Challenges from Unsustainable Delivery Practices
Greenhouse gas emissions make for the largest share of the downsides of increased delivery service. To counter this and safeguard the sustainability of the now necessary practice, businesses with delivery service are embracing eco-friendly options like electric-powered vehicles for their delivery rounds. Though this does little to help in comparison to the carbon footprint of their overseas and long-distance logistics, it is a step in the right direction towards achieving earth-conscious delivery services for a sustainable forthcoming.
Even though most jurisdictions have a restriction on single-use plastics, delivery service providers have to bear the burden of handling plastic packages from manufacturers. To counter this, most manufacturers and businesses are taking steps toward using fewer plastic-based packages for their products. Though the ultimate burden falls on the customer as to how they handle their packages, this step from the source goes a long way in reducing the prevalence of plastic as an environmental pollutant.
Earth Days will come and pass, but we’ll all remain responsible for ensuring that we play our parts in ensuring our delivery practices are conscious and help towards a sustainable future.