With the ability to transport anything, from groceries to electronics in as little as ten minutes, the instant commerce sector is gaining popularity and expanding quickly. Even so, quick commerce is tainted by a silent trail of carbon emissions, packaging waste, and overworked gig workers in the rush to deliver everything instantly.
The concept of quick commerce germinated during the pandemic era and has evolved into a mainstream service in half a decade. From New York to Nairobi, and London to Lagos, ultra-fast delivery services like Getir, Gorillas, Jokr , Blinkit , Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart have transformed the way we shop. In a world where instant gratification is becoming more and more prevalent, these platforms offer convenience that customers have come to heavily rely on. Unlike Amazon’s large warehouse model, where goods are packaged and shipped from centralized locations, Swiggy, Instamart and Blinkit operate using “dark stores.” Though not directly visible or accessible to customers, these small fulfillment centers are stocked with frequently purchased items and strategically distributed across major cities to ensure rapid turnover. Online orders are processed quickly and dispatched to nearby drivers, allowing for fast delivery to customers in close proximity. Overuse of materials, especially plastics and composite components, is a major cause of landfill overflow, ecosystem damage, and carbon emissions. The difficulty in recycling many packaging materials will heavily burden urban waste management systems. The issue is particularly acute in areas where quick parcel delivery has led to an increase of ‘e-commerce waste’. This trend necessitates more environmentally friendly packing procedures and systems.
The surge in express delivery demand, which accounts for 30 percent of orders, has driven significant operational shifts: it boosted TMT by about 40 percent, while consolidating nine packages per vehicle still required roughly 30 percent more fleet size to meet needs. From an environmental standpoint, these trends are alarming, as global goods transport already contributed 37 percent of GHG emissions from online shopping in 2020, accelerating climate change and resource depletion. Projections paint a dire picture–delivery vehicles are set to grow 36 percent to around 7.2 million by 2030, adding about 6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, worsening traffic congestion, and intensifying planetary strain. Packaging waste compounds this crisis, with 3 billion trees pulped annually worldwide for 241 million tons of shipping cartons; in China alone, 83 billion express parcels in 2020 generated 1.8 million tonnes of plastic waste and nearly 10 million tonnes of paper waste, underscoring the urgent need for greener logistics to protect ecosystems.
Ultra-fast delivery services have transformed online shopping, but they also leave a heavy impact – increasing urban congestion, pollution and overconsumption habits. As cities grow more strained, the negative impact of speed can no longer be ignored. To move forward responsibly, consumers must rethink ultra-fast delivery, companies must redesign logistics, and policymakers must enact balanced regulations. The future of convenience should not come at the expense of our planet or people. It’s time to deliver smarter, not just faster.
Sources:
https://uniathena.com/how-10-minute-delivery-apps-harming-sustainability
