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One-day shipping is definitely a logistical leap for mankind but I often wonder the environmental impact that is accrued in the pursuit of total convenience. A

One-day shipping is definitely a logistical leap for mankind but I often wonder the environmental impact that is accrued in the pursuit of total convenience. Also, their Prime branded delivery trucks are driven by gig workers, essentially making Prime the Uber of the delivery world. I just wonder how sustainable it all is. What level of convenience will be demanded next and what cost will that pose to the environment and to the part-time or gig workers who keep it moving.

emiliobumachar 7y ago
I guess it might be a net good environmentally. Packaging is bad, but driving to the nearest store to get a single item could be worse. Convenient delivery will decrease the latter.
- truebosko 7y ago
  Read a piece recently on how Uber is primarily used by people who are a) fairly well off and b) have access to transit or other options to get to work This argument you make reminds me of that. Most people taking advantage of Amazon One-Day delivery are in urban centres, and most of them are likely doing OK, and most of them can likely walk or take public transit to get what they need
- SamBam 7y ago
  Except that's the last mile, and I think a small proportion of the total carbon footprint. I think the question of whether same-day delivery is good or bad boils down to whether the goods are able to be trucked across the country in an efficient manner. If the company has switched to many more smaller trucks, which may be less than completely full, then it's a negative.
- bradstewart 7y ago
  Has anyone seen data on this? I recently starting making an effort to purchase things like paper towels, Advil, toothpaste, etc from Target (in person) instead of buying from Amazon to reduce the amount of packaging I have to recycle and throw away. I still feel like it's a net benefit, but that's purely a _feeling_.
- jfk13 7y ago
  On the other hand, if I'm going to drive to the store, I'm likely to plan ahead a little and pick up a number of items in one trip, rather than ordering them one by one online. (Or even ordering them all at once through Amazon, but having them arrive in a dozen separate deliveries.) I don't remember when I last drove to a store to get a single item. (I do occasionally walk or cycle down to the high street for an individual item such as milk, though it's more usually a handful of things.)
JackFr 7y ago
If Amazon owns the truck, it's not the Uber of anything. They're truck drivers.
- heymijo 7y ago
  Amazon doesn't own the trucks. These are branded partners they contract with. https://logistics.amazon.com/marketing/opportunity https://logistics.amazon.com/marketing/opportunity https://logistics.amazon.com/ https://logistics.amazon.com/ https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2018/06/28/amazon-package-delivery-prime-vans/ https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2018/06/28/amazon-package-delivery-...
bluedino 7y ago
Back in 1994 I could order something out of a computer shopper magazine and have it at my house the next day using Airborne express, I was amazed at the time (it usually arrived before 10am) and still kind of am.
- trevyn 7y ago
  Yeah, it’s still a step backward from Cyberian Outpost. (Though Prime Now / same-day is a step up when available.)

emiliobumachar 7y ago

I guess it might be a net good environmentally. Packaging is bad, but driving to the nearest store to get a single item could be worse. Convenient delivery will decrease the latter.

truebosko 7y ago
Read a piece recently on how Uber is primarily used by people who are a) fairly well off and b) have access to transit or other options to get to work This argument you make reminds me of that. Most people taking advantage of Amazon One-Day delivery are in urban centres, and most of them are likely doing OK, and most of them can likely walk or take public transit to get what they need
SamBam 7y ago
Except that's the last mile, and I think a small proportion of the total carbon footprint. I think the question of whether same-day delivery is good or bad boils down to whether the goods are able to be trucked across the country in an efficient manner. If the company has switched to many more smaller trucks, which may be less than completely full, then it's a negative.
bradstewart 7y ago
Has anyone seen data on this? I recently starting making an effort to purchase things like paper towels, Advil, toothpaste, etc from Target (in person) instead of buying from Amazon to reduce the amount of packaging I have to recycle and throw away. I still feel like it's a net benefit, but that's purely a _feeling_.
jfk13 7y ago
On the other hand, if I'm going to drive to the store, I'm likely to plan ahead a little and pick up a number of items in one trip, rather than ordering them one by one online. (Or even ordering them all at once through Amazon, but having them arrive in a dozen separate deliveries.) I don't remember when I last drove to a store to get a single item. (I do occasionally walk or cycle down to the high street for an individual item such as milk, though it's more usually a handful of things.)

JackFr 7y ago

If Amazon owns the truck, it's not the Uber of anything. They're truck drivers.

heymijo 7y ago
Amazon doesn't own the trucks. These are branded partners they contract with. https://logistics.amazon.com/marketing/opportunity https://logistics.amazon.com/marketing/opportunity https://logistics.amazon.com/ https://logistics.amazon.com/ https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2018/06/28/amazon-package-delivery-prime-vans/ https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2018/06/28/amazon-package-delivery-...

bluedino 7y ago

Back in 1994 I could order something out of a computer shopper magazine and have it at my house the next day using Airborne express, I was amazed at the time (it usually arrived before 10am) and still kind of am.

trevyn 7y ago
Yeah, it’s still a step backward from Cyberian Outpost. (Though Prime Now / same-day is a step up when available.)