{"id":6515,"date":"2022-06-03T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-03T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pditechnologies.com\/?p=6515"},"modified":"2023-06-22T09:34:44","modified_gmt":"2023-06-22T13:34:44","slug":"make-last-mile-delivery-sustainable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pditechnologies.com\/blog\/make-last-mile-delivery-sustainable\/","title":{"rendered":"How Companies Can Make Last-Mile Delivery Sustainable"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As more consumers consider e-commerce, it\u2019s increasingly important for companies to address the emissions stemming from the last leg of a product\u2019s journey to a consumer’s doorstep to help achieve global climate targets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to PDI Sustainability Solutions\u2019 2022 Business of Sustainability Index<\/a>, 75% of Americans are concerned about the environmental impact of their purchases, and 69% will use a product\u2019s environmental friendliness as a factor in their purchasing decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency<\/a> found that the transportation sector is responsible for 27% of U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. With e-commerce giants ramping up their delivery-model business, huge pressure has been placed on last-mile delivery systems to explore more sustainable options. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Last-Mile Delivery?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Last-mile delivery is the final leg of a product\u2019s journey to a store\u2019s shelves or a customer’s doorstep. The vehicle making the last-mile delivery uses fuel, and its emissions put carbon dioxide into the environment, increasing a company\u2019s carbon footprint. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although there are electric vehicles and cleaner ways to move something from one place to another, when we\u2019re talking about large amounts of freight, alternate fuel isn\u2019t often an option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Growing Focus on Last-Mile Delivery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are plenty of carbon offset programs a company can leverage to counteract the emissions a vehicle gives off during last-mile delivery. By buying the exact amount (or more) in certified carbon credits, you\u2019re effectively offsetting your carbon footprint, making your trip carbon neutral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PDI Sustainability Solutions\u2019 approach to carbon-neutral delivery provides a non-disruptive solution to minimize the carbon footprint from e-commerce and last-mile fulfillment using certified carbon offsets to bridge the gap to a more sustainable future. PDI calculates and neutralizes vehicle emissions on deliveries for retail and commercial partners. This relationship enables PDI clients to meet corporate sustainability targets while addressing the growing consumer demand for more environmentally friendly delivery options. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ways to Improve the Footprint of Last-Mile Delivery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While offsetting your carbon footprint is one way to reduce your carbon footprint, there are other strategies you can employ alongside these efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pack trucks thoroughly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Any space you leave empty within the cargo area decreases the efficiency of a delivery. Even though it adds more weight to the truck, and may raise carbon emissions for that one delivery, you\u2019re still getting everything delivered in one trip, rather than having to make two trips. The distance will end up being less overall, so pack the cargo space as full as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plan routes efficiently <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Reviewing the delivery routes of your drivers may also present opportunities to decrease a vehicle\u2019s carbon footprint. Are drivers taking the most direct route to get from the warehouse to the final destination? How many stop lights do they hit, and is there a route with fewer? Are deliveries grouped together in the most efficient way possible? Are drivers doubling back at any point?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Checking delivery vehicles against all of these questions can help highlight inefficiencies within delivery routes, enabling you to shorten some last-mile delivery paths and reduce the amount of time trucks are on the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modify refrigeration technology<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your company delivers products that must be refrigerated along the way, your last-mile delivery emissions are much higher. These trucks are using fuel to power the vehicle itself and keep the cargo area temperature-controlled. Offsetting this extra carbon output can be very costly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An alternative is to modify the refrigeration technology. Refrigeration units that meet the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s Tier 4 emissions standard<\/a> require less fuel and produce fewer carbon emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Individual Consumer Delivery Considerations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If your company isn\u2019t one that makes huge deliveries to retail locations, but rather to individuals, you can offer additional ways to reduce your carbon footprint. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n