Terms such as global warming, climate change, and renewable-energy are repetitively used, in order to encourage us to reduce daily actions producing emissions which negatively harm the environment. 

Pakistan is one of the victims of global warming and climate change and this leaves us with no choice but to act as a environmentally responsible citizen of this country. 

We, as individuals need to reduce our carbon footprints in order to create a positive impact, this too include aiming for environmental friendly online shopping.

One pertinent way to cut those emissions is by choosing how you order grocery and other items online. 

In metropolitan cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, we are witnessing brick-and-mortar stores offering online shopping options to their customers due to the ease and convenience.

In general, we Pakistanis have a long way to cover when shopping locally with regards to the environment since there is a tiny fraction of the population who tries to reduce their carbon footprints. 

However, we seek the opportunity to cover online shoppers to make their shopping greener and environmentally friendly. 

Howmuch has listed down 5 ways that can help you reduce your carbon footprint via online shopping in Pakistan.

Also read: A 5 point checklist for maintaining health and fitness at work

Carbon Emission

The first and most convenient way to control carbon emission is by reducing the store visits. 

This method has already started to take shape in Pakistan. 

People drive from store to store via their own private vehicles or public transportation, and these vehicles have proven to produce exhaust emissions which is bad for the environment. 

Just think of a number of stores you visit for a single shopping outing and imagine how many other cars are on the road for the same purpose. 

Collectively, the negative amount of carbon footprint we leave is huge. 

But, with online shopping, we can greatly reduce these carbon emissions by opting online channels for our daily needs.

Also read: Rise on online grocery/ mobile shopping tech in Pakistan

Order in Quantity

The second effective method is to plan your online shopping so that if you have several things to order you should be able to do it all at once. 

For instance, some people have a grocery list which can be ordered for a whole week or fortnight. 

This allows consolidating all the items into a list and then order everything at once. 

The hidden advantage of ordering grocery items at once is that your local delivery service will have a lesser amount of rides for delivering your order thereby reducing the overall impact on the carbon emission made by your purchase.

Additionally, you are also going to reduce fuel consumption.

Also read: How to save money in online grocery shopping in Pakistan

Don’t over order

Online shopping for clothing at times ends up with a bitter experience when it comes to size chart guideline available on e-commerce sites. 

Though less often, the size guide supplied by the manufacturer isn’t trustworthy and few online shoppers prefer to order two sizes just to make sure that one size fits correctly. 

This method might cost you courier charges, however, you are basically doubling the carbon footprints by ordering two sizes. 

The best practice is to order the size that actually makes sense. The chances are it would be of the right size, even if it doesn’t fit, you may return it. 

This way you are at least not planning two deliveries for every order. 

This small change in shopping habit will make a difference in creating a positive impact.

Also read: Is Pakistan finally ready for online grocery shopping? 

Packing material

Most of the deliveries made via online shopping will arrive in plastic packing in Pakistan which is hazardous to the environment. 

Although these shopping bags can be recycled, we as consumers need to push the envelope to increase the usage of environmentally friendly green shoppers and bags in the e-commerce industry of Pakistan. 

Online clothing shopping tycoons such as Daraz.pk, goto.com.pk, and online grocery services such as Howmuch, and Tazamart need to adopt green shoppers for their deliveries which will have a great impact on the environment as well as creating awareness among the masses.

Also read: 5 tricks no one tells you about grocery shopping

Pick-up Deliveries

Another way you can keep your online grocery shopping greener is to avoid pick-up option for your grocery shopping. 

When you choose pick-up option, you will have to leave home, drive up to the store to pick up your groceries. This way, you are not helping the environment but harming it as explained above. 

Similarly, if you are ordering clothes and expecting package delivery on any given day, make sure you or someone is present at home to receive it. 

When you order online and you aren’t at home for receiving the package, then you’ve to pick up from the courier office, which means fuel consumption and carbon footprints. 

The best practice is to give mailing address of your office if it’s getting delivered on weekdays instead of your home address. This way you can create a positive impact on the environment.

Also read: Everything you need to know about Tetra milk in Pakistan

Final Thoughts

Online shopping in Pakistan is thriving for quite some time and its popularity is expected to rapidly grow as millennials take this trend further up the hill. 

Now it is up to us to explore new ways to keep it environmentally friendly and reduce the carbon footprints and allow nature to heal itself from the past human transgressions. 

Environmental friendly online shopping is one step towards the right direction which every Pakistani should be taking to make a better living for our future generations.