As e-commerce continues to grow globally, the number of parcels being delivered is also on the rise. With 161 billion parcels delivered worldwide in 2022, the environmental impact of these deliveries cannot be ignored. In Australia alone, 5.6 million households made a monthly online purchase in 2023, leading to a significant increase in parcel shipments. The use of high-emitting diesel vans and trucks for last-mile deliveries contributes to traffic congestion, parking issues, carbon emissions, and air pollution in urban areas.
One way to reduce the environmental impact of parcel deliveries is by transitioning to low-emission vehicles such as electric vans powered by renewable energy sources. However, the global sales share of electric delivery vans and trucks was only around 5% in 2023. Increasing the number of vehicle chargers powered by renewable energy will also require time. To complement the shift to cleaner vehicles, short-term solutions like optimizing delivery organization and exploring innovative ideas are necessary.
The Concept of Crowdshipping
One innovative idea to improve the sustainability of deliveries is crowdshipping. This concept involves using crowdsourcing to facilitate delivery services. Members of the public can volunteer to deliver parcels during their journeys, integrating passenger and freight transport to streamline movement in cities. By matching people with parcels headed in the same direction, crowdshipping leverages existing transport capacity and reduces the need for dedicated couriers and additional delivery vehicles.
A simulation of crowdshipping in Singapore demonstrated multiple benefits of this approach. By outsourcing 11% of parcel deliveries to crowdshippers using public buses, an e-commerce carrier can reduce the number of delivery vehicles needed and lower delivery vehicle distances by 20%, leading to emissions reductions. Despite paying crowdshippers, carriers can also enjoy cost savings. The survey indicated that most passengers are willing to serve as crowdshippers, motivated by the opportunity to earn income while traveling.
Practical Considerations and Implementation
Several practical considerations need to be addressed for the successful implementation of crowdshipping. Ensuring that passengers are willing to deliver parcels, avoiding congestion or delays during peak hours, and building trust among users are crucial aspects. Limiting crowdshipping to off-peak hours, utilizing excess capacity on public transport, and establishing a reliable and accountable service platform are essential steps to making crowdshipping via public transport a viable and efficient solution for sustainable urban mobility.
The concept of crowdshipping via public transport holds promise for making urban delivery operations more sustainable. By leveraging the existing transport infrastructure and the willingness of passengers to participate, crowdshipping offers a practical solution to reduce the environmental impact of parcel deliveries. Cities with well-developed public transport systems and high passenger numbers can benefit from integrating passenger and freight transport through innovative solutions like crowdshipping. Through data-driven modeling and simulations, cities can explore and implement new ideas to enhance urban mobility and make deliveries more sustainable for the future.