This article raises a valid point about environmental impact of online shopping on the environment. Is online shopping really much better for the environment? Well, at the first glance, it appears so. We pollute less because we would not have to drive. Fewer stores would be built, preventing pollution from concrete. There would be fewer waste for decorating the store and keeping the store tidy. However, there are downsides. As the article mentions, there can be more impulse buys and there is tons of packaging. These factors are likely to mitigate the environmental benefits of online shopping.

But still I believe that online shopping has more benefits. Not building another store really reduces a lot of waste and resources. A store is not a stand alone store. There has to be infrastructure such as roads, electricity, water…These things are more likely to damage the environment than more packaging. Yet we cannot ignore the packaging. As the article suggests, we should not engage in impulse buys and buy in bundles to decrease packaging. However, more can be done.

Here are some solutions.

  1. Charge an environmental fee for online shopping. After all online shopping makes waste, so we can charge a little tax to clean up the mess.
  2. Enact a law to minimize use of plastic. Although online stores will balk but it can be done. We have gotten other harmful substances in products and services before.
  3. Recycle. This one is easy but not done so much. Recycle your packaging material. I tend to save them and give the boxes and plastic to people who are moving. A double win for the environment and my moving friends.
  4. Have minimum packaging option. Some of the products can be crushed. For instance, cheap pens and mouse do not need much protection. I would have been happy if Amazon provided me a minimum packaging option.
  5. Buy in bulk with others to minimize packaging.

Of course, we will need to experiment and try multiple methods to see what is the most effective way to reduce environmental impact.