4 Ways to Make your Last-Mile Deliveries More Eco-Friendly

Today’s customers expect fast delivery—but they’re also more environmentally conscious than ever. With the rise of e-commerce and the demand for same-day service, delivery operations have become a growing source of carbon emissions. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, 74% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 came from fuel consumption.

This concern is being reflected in shopping behavior. A McKinsey & Co. study revealed that 66% of global consumers consider sustainability when making a purchase. Customers want to support businesses that take real steps to protect the environment, and they’re paying attention to how products are packaged and delivered.

If you're a business offering last-mile delivery, now is the time to evaluate how your operations can become more eco-conscious. Below are four practical ways to make your deliveries greener, reduce your carbon footprint, and meet rising consumer expectations.

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Table of Contents

• Drive Electric Cars
• Use All the Space Your Delivery Vehicles Have
• Make Use of Durable, Eco-Friendly Packaging
• Use Delivery Software to Optimize Your Delivery Routes

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Drive Electric Cars

One of the most impactful ways to reduce delivery-related emissions is by transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs). EV sales reached record highs in 2020 and continue to grow as businesses seek cleaner alternatives to gas-powered fleets.

Major corporations like Amazon, Walmart, FedEx, and Unilever have committed to electrifying their delivery operations over the next decade. Amazon alone began testing 100,000 electric vans to reduce its carbon emissions.

For smaller businesses, EVs can offer dual benefits: cost savings and environmental impact. Delivery routes often consist of short, repetitive trips—perfect for vehicles with smaller, more affordable battery packs. The investment pays off not only in reduced fuel costs, but also in branding: being seen as a sustainable business matters to modern consumers.

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Use All the Space Your Delivery Vehicles Have

Efficient packaging and vehicle loading practices reduce both waste and emissions. Oversized boxes not only waste materials, but also limit the number of packages your vehicle can carry per trip.

Choose packaging that fits each product snugly. Pack delivery vans fully and logically—based on route order—so drivers don’t waste time searching for the next stop’s items. This helps you minimize the number of trips needed, resulting in less fuel consumption and faster delivery times.

By maximizing vehicle capacity, your deliveries become more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible—all while increasing customer satisfaction.

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Make Use of Durable, Eco-Friendly Packaging

Packaging is one of the most visible aspects of your environmental impact. Plastic remains a major concern, with over 14.5 million tons produced in 2018 alone. Since the pandemic, e-commerce and food delivery have only increased reliance on single-use plastics.

According to FreightWaves, 74% of consumers believe packaging materials have a significant impact on sustainability, and 81% believe businesses use excessive packaging.

Explore alternatives like:

• Boxes made from renewable or recycled materials
• Recyclable cardboard as a bubble wrap substitute
• Air pillows that use minimal plastic content
• Biodegradable packaging made from cornstarch, mushrooms, seaweed, or bamboo

Making the switch to sustainable materials shows your customers you’re serious about reducing waste and protecting the planet.

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Use Delivery Software to Optimize Your Delivery Routes

Route optimization is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint. By calculating the most efficient paths, delivery software can minimize time on the road, avoid traffic, and reduce fuel usage.

This results in fewer emissions, faster deliveries, and happier customers. Shorter routes mean more deliveries completed per shift—allowing your team to do more with less.

Smart routing also helps you manage time-sensitive deliveries, driver breaks, and shifting schedules. The key is finding software that’s built to scale with your business.

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Introducing EasyRoutes Local Delivery for Shopify

EasyRoutes is a powerful route optimization and delivery management tool built specifically for Shopify merchants. It allows you to:

• Plan and optimize local delivery routes
• Assign drivers and monitor progress
• Collect proof of delivery with photos, notes, and e-signatures
• Share live tracking links and automated notifications with customers

Unlike other planners that require exporting and importing spreadsheets, EasyRoutes syncs directly with your Shopify orders. You can build and dispatch multiple routes in just a few clicks.

With its intuitive interface and mobile apps for drivers, EasyRoutes helps you streamline operations, reduce environmental impact, and create a better delivery experience—all from your Shopify Admin.