Today, climate problems and their consequences are increasingly numerous worldwide. Hurricanes, tornadoes, cyclones, and floods now regularly strike around the globe. Climate change is one of the major civilization problems of our time, and many solutions are being implemented each year to address it. Is the new model of eco-friendly freight transport, such as ecological delivery, part of the answer to this issue?
Eco-Friendly Delivery: Towards a More Responsible E-Commerce
Who hasn't ever ordered a product online? And who hasn't eagerly awaited its delivery to their doorstep just a few days later? The e-commerce sector, along with parcel delivery by extension, has been experiencing constant growth for several years now, and few are the individuals who haven't yet tried it
Indeed, about 10 to 15% more parcels are delivered each year thanks to e-commerce. Just between January and June 2020, nearly 59.1 million orders were placed online in Belgium alone.
Moreover, with the ongoing global crisis, it is logical to note that the e-commerce and delivery sectors have benefited massively. Following the closure of restaurants and non-essential stores, and with government encouragement to reduce physical shopping, online sales of groceries, clothing, and other 'non-essential' goods have continued to increase in 2020.
The influx in stores may have been limited, but it came at the expense of the last-mile delivery sector. Logistics players quickly had to handle a significantly larger volume of deliveries, adding many vehicles to the already congested roads of major cities.
Sustainable solutions for transportation of the future
With the constant increase in the world's population and the environmental issues we are currently facing, it is natural to question mobility and transportation in the future. Indeed, some data is cause for concern regarding this issue: The world's population will reach 10 billion people by 2050. Within 50 years, nearly 80% of the population will live in cities and their outskirts
And with more population comes more vehicles for transportation and more pollution concentrated in one place. The government will therefore need to consider adapting infrastructure and roads, as well as promoting 'zero-emission' mobility for both private and professional travel
Fortunately, there are numerous options available to change transportation habits: public transportation, carpooling, shuttles, as well as cycling, scootering, and walking.
The future of delivery will be ecological
The delivery sector will also need to make some adjustments in its operations and move towards short supply chains. Other aspects can also be reconsidered: avoiding empty trips, optimizing loads, and making the last miles more environmentally responsible.
Several urban logistics companies have understood this well and have decided to develop eco-friendly delivery for their clients. This is the case with the Brussels-based startup Urbeez, which offers companies an innovative and dynamic delivery service. Urbeez couriers move around in 19 municipalities of Brussels using electric cargo bikes to carry out deliveries that are more sustainable, economical, and faster than their motorized competitors.
Eco-Friendly Delivery: 5 Reasons to Choose It
When we think about the alternative of eco-friendly delivery, we immediately consider the benefits it has for the environment or for alleviating traffic congestion in cities, but these are far from the only advantages of implementing zero-emission delivery. In fact, the benefits of this type of logistics will also be felt in the long term.
1- Population Well-being
As around 80% of the population will be concentrated in urban areas in the next thirty years, it is necessary to anticipate the cities of the future to provide a good quality of life for their inhabitants. Rethinking transportation and delivery methods will have a positive impact on the health and well-being of these individuals.
2- Preserving the Planet for the Future
The desire to pass on a planet in better condition to future generations has made many people sensitive to sustainable delivery solutions. Creating car-free zones, pedestrian areas, or developing bike lanes are just a few examples. Thus, the ecological transition is gradually taking place in cities to better respect nature and slow down climate change.
3- Empowering Future Generations
Today's children are tomorrow's adults. Therefore, it is essential to set a good example for them by raising awareness about environmental responsibility. This education of youth partly involves responsible delivery of their packages. Moreover, it gives them a positive perception of the companies that use it.
4- Adapting Urban Logistics to Demand
Customers are becoming more demanding and are increasingly seeking innovative, dynamic, and environmentally-conscious services. They are more likely to turn to a company that is committed to corporate social and environmental responsibility (CSR) for the delivery of their goods.
5- Reducing Noise Pollution
While we constantly address pollution from greenhouse gases, we talk much less about the pollution that affects our ears. However, noise pollution generates its share of health problems. Adopting a sustainable mode of transportation such as bicycle delivery reduces traffic noise in cities while adapting to new consumption patterns..
Become a Player in Tomorrow's Ecological Delivery
Ecological delivery is part of the new transportation model and will quickly become the preferred method of transportation in the future. With Urbeez, rethink the final links of your supply chain to minimize your impact on the environment. Request your free quote now.