Transportation is inevitable in modern times. Moreover, the increasing number of today’s businesses means an increasing number of logistical activities. One of the most noticeable of these is the retail industry, which has always relied on goods transportation. The multiplication in transportation negatively impacts the environment—this must be mitigated.
SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION AND ITS IMPACT
According to the World Economic Forum, transportation is one of the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases—accounting for around 20% of global emissions. Even worse, this figure was forecasted to double by 2050. For retailers, there is no denying that regular transportation is needed. Currently, there is an excess of delivery of products to consumers, prompting malls to become more ecologically mindful and responsible. Particularly in Europe, retailers and malls started to avoid using petrol vehicles for loading and delivering items to shopping malls. Several department stores have also reported using diesel-free transportation to bring goods to their premises and deliver products to customers.
THE KEY LIES IN THE FUEL
Galeries Lafayette, one of Paris’ luxury department stores, for instance, has announced that all transportation within the Île-de-France region will use CNG (Compressed Natural Gas). Since 2018, Printemps, another high-end French mall, has stopped using diesel for all shipments, whether transported to the store or customers. These examples demonstrate how shopping malls seek to cut their emissions as much as possible—though logistics is necessary, their fuel can be adjusted. Consequently, the fossil fuels reduction also improves all parties: better air quality for health and wellbeing in a more sustainable city, country, and planet.
Sustainable transportation is another aspect of a sustainable ecosystem. If multiple department stores and other industries collaborate—making environmentally sustainable actions in their areas of expertise, the environmental pollution will be reduced more than one can imagine. In addition, it enables companies to meet the criteria for a sustainable business that generates profits and benefits society. This is true sustainability regardless of the industry. Small actions, when combined, can significantly influence other parts of the world if everyone works together.
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