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Online commerce not as sustainable as retail locations, claims new study

The study factors in data that 33 percent of products bought online are returned compared to the in-store return rate of 7 percent.

March 23, 2016

A new study claims brick-and-mortar retailers boast a healthier sustainability model than ecommerce players.

The Simon Property Group report, created in collaboration with Deloitte Consulting, used a cradle-to-grave lifecycle analysis to investigate environmental impact of energy, fuel and materials of products. It includes the data that 33 percent of products bought online are returned compared to the in-store return rate of 7 percent, according to a Reit.com report.

The study notes customers travel to a mall in groups and that packaging used for online order delivery boasts a greater overall environmental impact.

“In an age when consumers are increasingly demanding same-day or fast delivery, which requires more resources such as fuel to fulfill, the negative impact of online shopping is likely to worsen even more," said Mona Benisi, senior director of sustainability at Simon, told Reit.com.