If I’m here for anything, it’s because of my role as a technology journalist. Part of my job involves testing and analyzing products in various areas, from cell phones to a fryer or a CCTV camera. My first job is to analyze them and share my feelings with readers, and I’m lucky that it’s a task that I enjoy.
However, it’s time to talk about sustainability and, more specifically, the breakneck speed with which these products get into my hands. We have standardized that an article I can leave a warehouse in China on a Monday morning and be at home, in the interior of the province of Alicante, on a Thursday before lunch. The environmental impact of these shipments has a hidden cost that each package leaves around the world.
The requirement for immediacy is non-negotiable
Our first online purchases were made not only with some suspicion, but also with the hope that The product would arrive within a week if it was a domestic product. 20 years ago, everything was very different from what it is today.
Over time, users have gained confidence and Delivery times have been reduced. But still, ordering a package from China meant waiting at least three weeks, if not more.
Today, fast or express shipping is the norm, and more and more users demand to receive their products instantly, without thinking about what that might mean. You can even receive it the same day if you are in cities like Madrid or Barcelona and you use platforms like Amazon. But this last example may not be the most appropriate, because the logistics are different. The product is already in a local warehouse and is transported, in many cases, by bicycle.
If I want to order a cheap phone case from a warehouse in China, my pulse doesn’t tremble when I click, without assessing the ecological cost that this implies. How is it possible that something small, and coming from so far away, can arrive so quickly?
The magic of invisible logistics
Receiving a package at home isn’t just about the seller packing and shipping it; There is a very complex network of operations that launches different means of transportation. From the initial or final delivery van to cargo planes. Companies manage to synchronize in a logistical ballet that allows them to meet deadlines with astonishing efficiency. This has generated an almost non-negotiable expectation among us, the users: that our package always arrives on time.
But all this dancing, added to a growing tendency to buy products at low pricesand where returns or duplicate shipments are common, this leaves a very strong trace of environmental impact.
As I write this, I find myself surrounded by electronic devices to test. For example, right now I have four cell phones on the table, a laptop charger and two pairs of headphones. I myself am the first to be amazed by logistics systems. When the shipment of a product is confirmed to me, it arrives the next day if it comes from Spain, or a little longer if it comes from Asia.
Every time the messenger comes home, I can’t help but think about the whole process behind this. Not only in the energy used to make the product, but also in the fuel of the vehicles that transported it and in the environmental impact of each link in the chain. Does all this justify our desire for immediacy?
Clearly I have a responsibility to share the information I generate after testing the products, but I alsoI need to be more aware of the impact of this fast shipping chain. Because the one who wears a non-beneficial backpack is the planet, and therefore us. We fill our house with trash that is not collected.
Fortunately, there is a change in trend
Despite this negative environmental impact generated by fast shipping logistics, it is also fair to recognize that many companies and manufacturers are realizing this and taking action. For example, minimize waste generated in packaging or use recycled materials in the manufacturing of many products.
Companies like Apple have set a goal of being carbon neutral by 2030.rubber bands are disappearing from most packaging, and cell phone cases are getting thinner and thinner because they no longer include the charger. This has a beneficial impact because more phones can be shipped in a container if the boxes are smaller.
Furthermore, the the purchase of reconditioned products is gaining groundas well as technology rental platforms, which provide access to fully reviewed and guaranteed devices, without the need to manufacture new products. This benefits both users, who get cheaper products, and the planet, which does not suffer from the extraction of more resources.
The environmental impact that cannot be seen
One of the biggest challenges is general lack of knowledge about the environmental impact of shipping. In addition to the carbon footprint, packaging still uses cardboard, much of which will end up in the trash. Every package tells a story, and that story includes a worrying chapter about natural resources taking a long time to regenerate, much longer than it takes for the package to arrive home.
According to 2023 figures, air transport constitutes between 2% and 3% of global CO2 emissions. Although this seems like a small percentage, This is a high-impact figure. Fortunately, aviation is making efforts to design more efficient engines and fuels with less ecological impact.
We need to be more aware
From my perspective, as someone who works with technology, it is very important that Let’s take into account the consequences of our consumption habits. It is obvious that this is not only an effort on the part of companies, but also on the part of users.
I’m not asking that we stop shopping online, but I’m asking that let’s consider more sustainable alternativessuch as grouped shipments or collection at delivery points available 24 hours a day. Let’s take advantage of the advantages of modern logistics while being more conscious of our decisions.
Every package that arrives at my door reminds me of the efficiency of the entire chain involved, but it also makes me understand that we must direct these efforts towards greater sustainability. We want technology to continue to advance, but we need to ensure that it does so responsibly and without as big an impact.
