Parcel and Postal Technology International
  • News
    • A-E
      • Automation
      • Business Diversification
      • Construction / Development
      • Cross-border
      • Delivery
      • E-commerce
      • Expo
    • F-O
      • Freight
      • IT & Systems
      • Last Mile
      • Lockers / PUDO
      • Logistics
      • Mail
      • Operations
    • P-R
      • Packets
      • Parcels
      • Peak
      • Retail
      • Returns
    • S-Z
      • Sorting Systems
      • Staff / Personnel
      • Sustainability
      • Technology
      • Vehicles / Fleet
  • Features
  • Online Magazines
    • March 2025
    • September 2023
    • June 2023
    • March 2023
    • December 2022
    • SHOWCASE 2019
    • Archive Issues
    • Subscribe Free!
  • Opinion
  • Videos
  • Analysis
  • Awards
    • 2025 Awards
    • Previous Winners
  • Supplier Spotlight
  • Parcel + Post Expo
LinkedIn YouTube Twitter
  • Sign-up for Breaking News Emails
  • Meet the Editors
  • Contact Us
  • Media Pack
Subscribe
LinkedIn Facebook
Parcel and Postal Technology International
  • News
      • Automation
      • Business Diversification
      • Construction / Development
      • Cross-border
      • Delivery
      • E-commerce
      • Expo
      • Freight
      • IT & Systems
      • Last Mile
      • Lockers / PUDO
      • Logistics
      • Mail
      • Operations
      • Packets
      • Parcels
      • Peak
      • Retail
      • Returns
      • Sorting Systems
      • Staff / Personnel
      • Sustainability
      • Technology
      • Vehicles / Fleet
  • Features
  • Online Magazines
    1. December 2024
    2. September 2024
    3. June 2024
    4. March 2024
    5. SHOWCASE 2019
    6. Subscribe Free!
    Featured
    April 2, 2025

    In this Issue – March 2025

    Online Magazines By Web Team
    Recent

    In this Issue – March 2025

    April 2, 2025

    In this Issue – December 2024

    December 5, 2024

    In this Issue – September 2024

    September 19, 2024
  • Opinion
  • Videos
  • Analysis
  • Awards
    • 2025 Awards
    • 2024 Award Winners
    • 2023 Award Winners
    • 2022 Award Winners
    • 2021 Award Winners
    • 2020 Award Winners
    • 2019 Award Winners
    • Previous Winners
  • Supplier Spotlight
  • Parcel + Post Expo
LinkedIn Facebook
Subscribe
Parcel and Postal Technology International
E-commerce

Posti report reveals impact of e-commerce transportation emissions

Hazel KingBy Hazel KingJune 10, 20193 Mins Read
Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

A new assessment of the environmental impact of e-commerce, which Posti carried out together with Gaia Consulting Oy, a sustainable business consultancy, has revealed that most of the emissions produced over a product’s lifespan are generated during production and, regardless of whether the consumer buys the product from an online store or a physical store, the transportation route of products from the country of origin to Finland is essentially the same.

“E-commerce is growing, and we want to create a sustainable foundation for that growth. We want to better understand the impact of e-commerce on the climate and what we can do about it,” said Turkka Kuusisto, senior vice president, parcel and e-commerce at Posti.

According to the report, most of the environmental impact of consumer products is already determined during the planning phase. Over 80% of the emissions produced during the lifespan of products such as clothes are generated by the production of raw materials and the product itself. The total share of transport, retail and use is less than 20%.

The transportation route of products from the country of origin to Finland is also essentially the same, regardless of whether the consumer buys the product from an online store or a physical store.

According to Posti, the ease of buying and returning products while shopping online may encourage unnecessary consumption. However, online shopping also gives consumers access to a broad selection of sustainable products, regardless of where one lives. It is easier for companies to share information about the environmental impact of an item’s production through an online store than it would be at a physical store.

The report also found that peer-to-peer e-commerce can significantly extend the lifespan of a product. When consumers buy used products using platforms such as Tori.fi or recycling groups on Facebook, no emissions are generated by the production of new products or the disposal of used ones.

The last mile of the product, meaning the journey from Posti’s distribution-fulfillment center to the consumer, has a surprisingly strong effect on the overall emissions from the product’s transport, according to the report.

The factor that affects Posti’s last-mile emissions the most is delivery efficiency, meaning the number of items the driver is able to deliver during the working day. Other factors that affect last-mile emissions are vehicle type and delivery distance. Posti compensates for its emissions in Finland by supporting certified climate projects.

Consumers are advised to favor low-emission means of transportation for picking up parcels, or to pick up their parcels when doing their grocery shopping, for example. The assessment found that consumers can also reduce emissions by routing items to a point along their commute using the Oma Posti application.

The assessment also found that unnecessary returns increase emissions from e-commerce as well as the consumption of packaging material, and suggests that online stores can reduce the number of returns by giving enough information about their products and offering services such as virtual fitting rooms.

Posti cuts emissions by, for example, optimizing routes, improving the fill rates of cars and reducing unnecessary movement by adding parcel lockers to locations near consumers. Having online store deliveries depart from Posti’s warehouses also enables retailers to use their resources wisely. As part of the assessment, Posti created a guide for online stores on how they can reduce their emissions.

“Reducing emissions from parcel traffic is an important part of Posti’s business strategy. We want to be the most efficient and eco-friendly parcel delivery option for consumers. We commit to making the measures proposed in the assessment a part of Posti’s business operations,” added Kuusisto.

Share. Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Email
Previous ArticleFM Logistic makes first use of new tool for measuring carbon emissions from logistics sites
Next Article Hermes showcases state-of-the-art tech hub in Leeds

Related Posts

Vehicles / Fleet

Royal Mail adds 7,000th electric vehicle to fleet

May 16, 20251 Min Read
Delivery

DHL eCommerce UK and Evri merge to create premium parcel delivery company

May 14, 20254 Mins Read
E-commerce

Whistl to provide e-commerce fulfillment services to Tesco F&F Online

May 13, 20252 Mins Read

Receive breaking stories and features in your inbox each week, for free


Enter your email address:


Latest News

Royal Mail adds 7,000th electric vehicle to fleet

May 16, 2025

Australia Post warns customers about rising number of parcel scam messages

May 16, 2025

DHL adds 30,000m2 warehouse to health logistics campus in Germany

May 16, 2025
Getting in Touch
  • Contact Us / Advertiser
  • Meet the Editors
  • Download Media Pack
  • Breaking News Emails
Our Social Channels
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
Supplier Spotlights
  • Plus One Robotics
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Notice & Takedown Policy
  • Site FAQs
© 2025 UKi Media & Events a division of UKIP Media & Events Ltd

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.

CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-advertisement1 yearSet by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie records the user consent for the cookies in the "Advertisement" category.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics1 yearSet by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie records the user consent for the cookies in the "Analytics" category.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional1 yearThe GDPR Cookie Consent plugin sets the cookie to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary1 yearSet by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie records the user consent for the cookies in the "Necessary" category.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others1 yearSet by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie stores user consent for cookies in the category "Others".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance1 yearSet by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie stores the user consent for cookies in the category "Performance".
elementorneverThe website's WordPress theme uses this cookie. It allows the website owner to implement or change the website's content in real-time.
JSESSIONIDsessionNew Relic uses this cookie to store a session identifier so that New Relic can monitor session counts for an application.

Functional

Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.

CookieDurationDescription
__cf_bm30 minutesCloudflare set the cookie to support Cloudflare Bot Management.

Analytics

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

CookieDurationDescription
CONSENT2 yearsYouTube sets this cookie via embedded YouTube videos and registers anonymous statistical data.
uidsessionThis is a Google UserID cookie that tracks users across various website segments.
vuid1 year 1 month 4 daysVimeo installs this cookie to collect tracking information by setting a unique ID to embed videos on the website.
_ga1 year 1 month 4 daysGoogle Analytics sets this cookie to calculate visitor, session and campaign data and track site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognise unique visitors.
_ga_*1 year 1 month 4 daysGoogle Analytics sets this cookie to store and count page views.

Advertisement

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.

CookieDurationDescription
OAGEOsessionOpenX sets this cookie to avoid the repeated display of the same ad.
OAID1 yearCookie set to record whether the user has opted out of the collection of information by the AdsWizz Service Cookies.
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE5 months 27 daysYouTube sets this cookie to measure bandwidth, determining whether the user gets the new or old player interface.
YSCsessionYoutube sets this cookie to track the views of embedded videos on Youtube pages.
yt-remote-connected-devicesneverYouTube sets this cookie to store the user's video preferences using embedded YouTube videos.
yt-remote-device-idneverYouTube sets this cookie to store the user's video preferences using embedded YouTube videos.
yt.innertube::nextIdneverYouTube sets this cookie to register a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen.
yt.innertube::requestsneverYouTube sets this cookie to register a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen.

Others

Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.

CookieDurationDescription
VISITOR_PRIVACY_METADATA5 months 27 daysDescription is currently not available.

SAVE & ACCEPT
Powered by