E-commerce shipping generates significant carbon emissions. Here's how to measure and reduce your impact.
Understanding Carbon Impact
Shipping Emissions
Transport Mode CO2 per ton-mile Air freight 0.8 kg Truck 0.15 kg Rail 0.04 kg Ocean 0.01 kg
Average Package Impact
Service CO2 (1 lb, 1000 mi) Next-day air 4.0 kg 2-day air 2.5 kg Ground 0.5 kg
CO2 = Weight × Distance × Emission factorFactors by mode:
Air: 0.8 kg CO2 per ton-mile
Ground: 0.15 kg CO2 per ton-mile
Last mile: Add 0.1 kg per delivery
Example Calculation
1,000 shipments/month
Average: 2 lbs, 500 miles, groundCO2 = 2 lbs × 500 mi × 0.15 / 2000 = 0.075 kg per shipment
Monthly: 75 kg CO2
Annual: 900 kg CO2 (0.9 metric tons)
Reduction Strategies
High-Impact Actions
Action Reduction Ground vs. air Up to 90% Route optimization 10-20% Package right-sizing 5-15% Consolidated shipping 10-25%
Quick Wins
Change Implementation Default ground Change checkout default Slower shipping Offer eco-option Pickup points Reduce last-mile Regional distribution Shorter distances
Service Level Impact
Carbon by Speed
Speed Carbon Relative Same-day 10x ground Next-day 8x ground 2-day 5x ground Ground 1x (baseline)
Customer Choice Offer eco-option:
○ Express (2-day) - $12.99
○ Standard (5-7 days) - $5.99
◉ Eco Shipping (7-10 days) - FREE 🌱
Lower carbon footprint
Carbon Offsetting
How Offsets Work
Step Description Calculate Determine emissions Purchase Buy carbon credits Invest Credits fund projects Verify Third-party validation
Carrier Programs
Carrier Program Cost UPS Carbon Neutral Per-shipment FedEx Carbon Offset Voluntary DHL GoGreen Premium service
DIY Offsetting
Provider Cost per ton Terrapass $10-15 Gold Standard $15-25 Climate Neutral Variable
Packaging Impact
Material Comparison
Material Carbon Impact Recycled cardboard Lowest Virgin cardboard 2x recycled Plastic 3-4x cardboard Foam Highest
Reduction Strategies
Strategy Impact Right-size boxes Less material Recycled content Lower production carbon Eliminate plastic Significant reduction
Reporting & Transparency
What to Track
Metric Frequency Total CO2 Monthly CO2 per shipment Monthly By transport mode Monthly Offset purchases Quarterly
Customer Communication
Method Content Order confirmation "This shipment: X kg CO2" Annual report Total impact & reductions Product pages Shipping carbon estimate
Setting Goals
Science-Based Targets
Timeframe Target 2025 25% reduction 2030 50% reduction 2040 Net zero
Achieving Goals
Year Actions 1 Measure baseline, quick wins 2-3 Optimize routes, packaging 3-5 Offset remaining, innovate
Reduce your footprint:
Ground default : Lower-carbon optionRoute optimization : Shortest pathsReporting : Track emissionsCarrier comparison : Include carbon factor
Conclusion Shipping carbon footprint is measurable and reducible. Calculate your impact, prioritize ground shipping, optimize packaging, and offset what you can't eliminate. Use atoship for efficient routing and lower-carbon shipping options.
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