What’s greener? Online vs in-store shopping

Items bought over the internet from overseas stores are typically sent to you by airfreight, which creates more emissions than sending freight by sea. A ton of airfreight releases 0.69kg of CO₂ every kilometre.

Flying a 1kg package from the US to New Zealand will produce 9kg of CO₂.

A package that is flown to New Zealand is typically then delivered by courier van or post. Couriers make multiple stops and choose the most efficient route possible. A 1kg package is responsible for just 0.2kg of CO₂ emissions on a 20km delivery trip – which is much more efficient than driving your car to buy an item.

The total carbon cost for a 1kg package from the US? 9.2kg.

Packaging for posted items creates waste that is often non-recyclable.

Online stores often use warehouses with basic lighting, heating and no windows, carpets or elaborate fittings – meaning their carbon footprint is relatively low.

Items bought in physical stores are usually imported in bulk, by ship. Seafreight releases less CO₂ than airfreight – each ton shipped releases 0.025kg of CO₂ per kilometre.

Shipping a 1kg package from the US to NZ will produce 0.35kg of CO₂.

Items bought in physical stores arrive here by boat, but are then typically purchased by shoppers who travel in cars. Driving 20km to buy a 1kg item produces 4.6 kg CO₂ – much more CO₂ than a courier van produces.

The total carbon cost for a 1kg item from the US? 4.95kg.

Retailers have elaborately fitted-out shops with heating, lighting, and facilities for staff that require more energy to run and set up.

Cycling, walking or taking public transport (like a train) to the shops makes buying in-store even more efficient. So does buying lots of items on a single trip.