A recent National Public Radio (NPR) article reported that home grocery delivery may be more environmentally friendly than driving to the store. Citing a study published in the Journal of the Transportation Research Forum, the article explained that using a delivery service can cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by at least half because the delivery truck acts as a “bus for groceries” and requires less mileage.
The study’s co-author explained that even if a delivery truck is a larger vehicle, it is more efficient to share the vehicle than making individual trips to the store. The amount of reduced emissions varies, however, based on (1) how close people live to the store, (2) the number of people getting food delivered in a neighborhood, and (3) the truck route’s efficiency. For example, according to the study, clustered routes can produce 90% less CO2 than a random route.
The study, which is an analysis of delivery service scenarios in Seattle, also concluded that the greatest savings in CO2 occurs in larger service areas (areas with less density). This is particularly true in rural areas where alternative means of transport such as walking, public transit, or bicycling, are less practical.
