Did you know that about 4.2% of purchases are now done with a computer or hand-held device in 2010, compared with 3.3% in 2008??
According to the U.S. Census Bureau. What about all the cardboard boxes and foam peanuts that come with the growing number of online purchases? And how about those delivery trucks idling at the curb?
Is online shopping better for the environment, or could it be worse?
A study from Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University, revealed that online shopping is almost always less energy-intensive than going to a store in person.
“E-commerce is the less energy-consumptive option approximately 80% of the time,” according to the report, which cited customer transportation to and from a brick-and-mortar store as the single most important factor. More energy is used in transportation than in packaging, warehousing and personal computing, as well as in running retail stores and data centers. That may seem counterintuitive, considering the fuel efficiency of delivery trucks and the packaging that arrives on shoppers' doorsteps, but on average, E-COMMERCE USES ABOUT 30% LESS ENERGY THAN TRADITIONAL RETAIL, according to the study.
Online shopping SAVES you a great amount of TIME and MONEY!!! It used to take me about 2.5-3 hours at Walmart shopping for our homes supplies and our groceries. The store is huge and it takes a while to go through every aisle pushing a heavy cart with a baby on it! And let's be real, you go to Walmart to buy 5 things and you come out with 12!! With a click I avoid impulse shopping and I get what we need without dragging my kids to the store. We have more time during the week to workout, read, play.
"New research by The Institution of Engineering and Technology at Newcastle University in Britain shows online shoppers must order more than 25 items to have any less impact on the environment than traditional shopping due to resources required for shipping and handling.
The study looked at “rebound” effects — or unintended side-effects of policies designed to reduce carbon emissions — of activities that are commonly thought to be green."
I buy eco-friendly products of better quality and at a better price than the cheap products Walmart has. Shampoo, lotion, heavy duty cleaner, toothbrushes, dental floss, instant oatmeal, popcorn, children acetaminophen, antibacterial ointments, band-aids, masks, cosmetics, laundry detergent, protein shakes, snacks and more!
I go to my closest store to get produce, dairy, bread and minor things. In and out in less than an hour!! And I save the gas of driving to Walmart which is not close by, at $3.95 a gallon who doesn't want to avoid driving!!??
In our community, 5 homes order safer and better products from the same manufacturer, so UPS delivers to all of us. Instead of 5 cars driving to the store, one truck comes to the area!! And nothing better than coming back from work and find your every day items right by your door!
I've been shopping online for over 5 years, it has made my life easier. I have tried many brands, some you can only find them on the web. Finally I found the brand that works best for us. The products I get are super concentrated so they last longer, costing less per use. And my mental health is much better as I don't have to deal with under-qualified store people, lines, traffic and people wondering around the store.
It will be my pleasure to teach how to simplify your life while you improve your health and save money. Just ask :o) In the mean time, take a look at the video and enjoy!
