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From Bricks to Clicks: The Impact of Online Retailing on Transport and the Environment

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  • Sharon Cullinane

Abstract

Online retailing is growing fast and claims are being made about its positive environmental impact relative to traditional shopping, particularly by the retailers themselves. There is, however, little concrete evidence to support the claims. Whilst there exists some research into the passenger travel implications of e‐shopping, this paper seeks to analyse the issues involved in online shopping from both a passenger and freight transport perspective. The objectives of the paper are first, to set out the complex transport relationships involved in online shopping and in particular the interaction between the passenger and freight aspects and second, to shed some light on the environmental impact of online shopping. It concludes that as things currently stand, it cannot be stated with any degree of certainty that clicks are any more environmentally responsible than bricks. The paper is conceptual in nature and is the pre‐cursor to an empirical study of the issue.

Suggested Citation

  • Sharon Cullinane, 2009. "From Bricks to Clicks: The Impact of Online Retailing on Transport and the Environment," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(6), pages 759-776, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:transr:v:29:y:2009:i:6:p:759-776
    DOI: 10.1080/01441640902796364
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    Cited by:

    1. Buldeo Rai, Heleen, 2021. "The net environmental impact of online shopping, beyond the substitution bias," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    2. Orit Rotem-Mindali & Jesse Weltevreden, 2013. "Transport effects of e-commerce: what can be learned after years of research?," Transportation, Springer, vol. 40(5), pages 867-885, September.
    3. Volker Frehe & Frank Teuteberg, 2017. "Information and communication technology in green logistics: status quo and research gaps," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 67(2), pages 65-96, April.
    4. Roberta Alves & Renato da Silva Lima & David Custódio de Sena & Alexandre Ferreira de Pinho & José Holguín-Veras, 2019. "Agent-Based Simulation Model for Evaluating Urban Freight Policy to E-Commerce," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-19, July.
    5. Lachapelle, Ugo & Burke, Matthew & Brotherton, Aiden & Leung, Abraham, 2018. "Parcel locker systems in a car dominant city: Location, characterisation and potential impacts on city planning and consumer travel access," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 1-14.
    6. Grazyna Chaberek, 2021. "The Possibility of Reducing Individual Motorised Traffic through the Location of Collection Points Using the Example of Gdańsk, Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-12, September.
    7. Alexander Rossolov & Halyna Rossolova & José Holguín-Veras, 2021. "Online and in-store purchase behavior: shopping channel choice in a developing economy," Transportation, Springer, vol. 48(6), pages 3143-3179, December.
    8. Cullinane, Sharon & Browne, Michael & Karlsson, Elisabeth & Wang, Yingli, 2017. "Improving sustainability through digitalisation in reverse logistics," Chapters from the Proceedings of the Hamburg International Conference of Logistics (HICL), in: Jahn, Carlos & Kersten, Wolfgang & Ringle, Christian M. (ed.), Digitalization in Maritime and Sustainable Logistics: City Logistics, Port Logistics and Sustainable Supply Chain Management in the Digital Age. Proce, volume 24, pages 185-196, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Institute of Business Logistics and General Management.
    9. Carling, Kenneth & Han, Mengjie & Håkansson, Johan & Meng, Xiangli & Rudholm, Niklas, 2014. "Measuring CO2 Emissions Induced by Online and Brick-and-mortar Retailing," HUI Working Papers 106, HUI Research.
    10. Magdalena Mucowska, 2021. "Trends of Environmentally Sustainable Solutions of Urban Last-Mile Deliveries on the E-Commerce Market—A Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-26, May.
    11. Farah, Maya F. & Ramadan, Zahy B., 2017. "Disruptions versus more disruptions: How the Amazon dash button is altering consumer buying patterns," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 54-61.
    12. Heleen Buldeo Rai & Koen Mommens & Sara Verlinde & Cathy Macharis, 2019. "How Does Consumers’ Omnichannel Shopping Behaviour Translate into Travel and Transport Impacts? Case-Study of a Footwear Retailer in Belgium," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-19, May.
    13. Mashalah, Heider Al & Hassini, Elkafi & Gunasekaran, Angappa & Bhatt (Mishra), Deepa, 2022. "The impact of digital transformation on supply chains through e-commerce: Literature review and a conceptual framework," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).

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