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Not to sound bitter, but why the heck do you buy so much on Amazon (you and others on this HN formum) ? Isn't it clear from the premises that that whole online

by wiz21c 6y ago

Not to sound bitter, but why the heck do you buy so much on Amazon (you and others on this HN formum) ? Isn't it clear from the premises that that whole online thing is treacherous at best for the environment, our environment ? I can understand the convenience, buying stuff you don't find in your local shops, etc. But much of what Amazon do is because they have customers... So instead of complaining about Amazon, why not just fix our own behavior ? (sorry to say that like this, I know it's super not diplomatic and one sided and maybe I could even not defend my own point of view if we'd be to talk face to face, but at some point choices must be made)

samatman 6y ago
This is the least credible reason to not use Amazon. They treat their warehouse workers cruelly, tolerate counterfeits, allow the review process to be juked to the point of uselessness, and contribute to a brittle monoculture. But the environment? Any consumer good is transported by internal combustion engine from the factory, to some intermediate places, to the door. Maybe someone uses a bike for the last part, but mostly, they drive to the store in their private automobile. Amazon uses package delivery services, which is much more efficient, and warehouses have a smaller environmental footprint than stores, which are all backed by warehouses anyway. It's either a small amount of additional cardboard and plastic, or a whole additional building and a few miles of driving a single automobile. It's pretty clear that Amazon wins this comparison.
sokoloff 6y ago
I’m not so sure that a local electronics shop is way more ecological. More HVAC, more lighting, items shipped to an intermediate warehouse, then reshipped, then maybe transferred between stores, then customers driving their SUVs around shopping. It wouldn’t surprise me if Amazon can get me a TV with lower total emissions than if I shopped locally. If I comparison shopped locally, I’m virtually certain Amazon’d win.

by wiz21c 6y ago

samatman 6y ago

This is the least credible reason to not use Amazon. They treat their warehouse workers cruelly, tolerate counterfeits, allow the review process to be juked to the point of uselessness, and contribute to a brittle monoculture. But the environment? Any consumer good is transported by internal combustion engine from the factory, to some intermediate places, to the door. Maybe someone uses a bike for the last part, but mostly, they drive to the store in their private automobile. Amazon uses package delivery services, which is much more efficient, and warehouses have a smaller environmental footprint than stores, which are all backed by warehouses anyway. It's either a small amount of additional cardboard and plastic, or a whole additional building and a few miles of driving a single automobile. It's pretty clear that Amazon wins this comparison.

sokoloff 6y ago

I’m not so sure that a local electronics shop is way more ecological. More HVAC, more lighting, items shipped to an intermediate warehouse, then reshipped, then maybe transferred between stores, then customers driving their SUVs around shopping. It wouldn’t surprise me if Amazon can get me a TV with lower total emissions than if I shopped locally. If I comparison shopped locally, I’m virtually certain Amazon’d win.