Effects of online retailing on carbon emissions

Greening of retail logistics

Chapter

McKinnon, A.C. in Retail Management and Logistics, 5th edition, eds. Fernie, J. and Sparks, L., Kogan Page, London (2018)

This chapter significantly revises and updates the corresponding chapter in the 4th edition of this book.  Logistical activities are responsible for much of the environmental cost associated with modern retailing, as reflected in the CSR and  environmental statements of large retailers.  There is a strengthening commitment to making retailing genuinely sustainable in both environmental and social terms.  As ...

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A comparative analysis of carbon emissions from online retailing of fast moving consumer goods

Paper

Van Loon, P., Deketele, L., Dewaele, J., McKinnon, A.C. and Rutherford, C., Journal of Cleaner Production, 106, 478-486 (2014)

Online retailing can lower the environmental impact of shopping under specific circumstances. As a result of the numerous variables involved, most of the studies that have compared the carbon footprints of online and conventional retailing only take a partial view. To make a more holistic assessment, this study develops a ... ...

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The Growth of Online Retailing: a Review of its Carbon Impacts

Paper

Van Loon, Patricia, Alan C. McKinnon, Lieven Deketele and Joost Dewaele, Carbon Management, 5, 3, 285-292 (2014)

This paper examines the carbon impact of online retailing and compares it with that of conventional retailing. It discusses the effect of varying the scope of the calculation, the system boundaries and the underlying assumptions. While most of the carbon emissions come from the last-mile delivery, this is also the ... ...

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Comparative carbon auditing of conventional and online retail supply chains: a review of methodological issues

Paper

Edwards, J.B., McKinnon, A.C. and Cullinane. S., Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 16, 1, 57-63 (2011)

This paper breaks online and conventional retail supply chains into several nodes and links to assess their relative environmental impacts. It highlights some of the difficulties in establishing a robust methodology for comparing the carbon footprints of online and conventional retailing, mainly associated with boundary issues, utilisation factors and carbon allocation. ...

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The CO2 Benefits of Using Collection / Delivery Points for Failed Home Deliveries

Paper

Edwards, J., McKinnon, A., Cherrett, T., McLeod, F. and Song, L., Transportation Research Record, 10, 1901, 136-143 (2010)

Unlike much of the previous research on this topic, which assesses the economic consequences of failed deliveries to the home, this study examines the issue of failed delivery from a carbon-auditing perspective. It considers the potential environmental savings from the use of alternative forms of collection and delivery over traditional delivery methods for failed home deliveries. ...

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Comparative Analysis of the Carbon Footprints of Conventional and Online Retailing: A 'Last Mile' Perspective

Article

Edwards, J.B. and McKinnon, A.C., International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, 40, 1 (2010)

This paper compares the carbon intensity of “last mile” deliveries (i.e. deliveries of goods from local depots to the home) and personal shopping trips. Several last mile scenarios are constructed for the purchase of small, non‐food items, such as books, CDs, clothing, cameras and household items. ...

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Shopping trip or home delivery - which has the smaller carbon footprint?

Article

Edwards, J.B. and McKinnon, A.C., Logistics and Transport Focus, July (2009)

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Carbon Auditing the 'Last Mile': Modelling the Environmental Impacts of Conventional and Online Shopping

Report

Edwards, J.B.. McKinnon, A.C., and Cullinane, S.L. Research Report, Logistics Research Centre, Heriot-Watt University.(2009)

This report discusses whether it is better, in terms of CO2 emissions, to travel to the shops to buy non-food items or to order them online and have them delivered to your home.  It focuses attention in the last link in the retail supply chain, commonly referred to as the 'last mile'. ...

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