Why E-Commerce Needs Tree Planting

The rate of deforestation between 2015 and 2020 was an estimated 10 million hectares per year. While this is an improvement, down from 16 million in the 1990s, there is still a lot of work to be done when it comes to protecting our planet's forests. Many different industries have a significant impact on the environment and deforestation, but the e-commerce industry is one that should take particular interest in how it affects the environment. E-commerce has an impact on the environment through its use of packaging, delivery, and the general consumption of products. At Suusco, we are committed to combating deforestation, which is why we plant one tree for every order. We also invite our customers to match this if they would like to contribute too.

Some of the environmental problems linked to E-commerce include transportation emissions and its use of packaging. E-commerce businesses typically use a mixture of packaging materials but often make use of cardboard boxes, packets, and envelopes. This is often presented as the eco-friendly choice, as cardboard can be recycled easily. However, online businesses have a significant effect on the demand for cardboard. Many cardboard products do use recycled material but if there is a shortage of existing cardboard, it's necessary to go to the source, which is trees.

In the UK, there has been a shortage of cardboard recently. This is due to a number of factors, including an increase in online ordering. Large retailers such as Amazon have also been blamed for the shortage, due to them buying large amounts of corrugated packaging. An imbalance in supply and demand from European paper mills and even delayed recycling collections may have also played a part.

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Emissions from delivery and transportation are also a concern in the E-commerce industry. The industry is responsible for a significant portion of the UK's carbon emissions, both from deliveries and returns. Royal Mail and various delivery companies are making efforts to cut down on their emissions, but it's also important to take steps to help balance out the effect the E-commerce deliveries have on the planet.

We work with One Tree Planted, a charity committed to planting trees around the world to help the effort against deforestation. Their mission is simple; for every dollar, they plant a tree. When you place an order with Suusco, a tree will be planted somewhere in the world. One Tree Planted plants trees in Europe, Africa, North America, Latin America, and Asia. Our customers can choose to match our commitment too if you want to make a further contribution. Other charitable projects are doing similar things, such as Ecologi who plant trees, and fund climate crisis solutions. Another way you can join in is through the ForestNation platform, which you can use to help plant trees through games, gift-giving, and other actions.

E-commerce can't avoid having some impact on the environment, but there are things that can be done to help balance it out. Planting trees is just one way to ensure E-commerce can make a positive impact.