Galaxus: Slow Delivery Fast Awareness article, we will discuss our changing consumption habits and how brands can make a difference in the inevitable rise of e-commerce.
With the spread of e-commerce, our consumption habits have also undergone a major transformation. While we used to spend days researching and visiting store to store to buy a product, we can now order with a single click and have it at our door in a few hours. This speed and convenience has made life practical while also dramatically increasing our consumption amount.
So how heavy is the ecological bill of this transformation?
The truth is, with the growth of the e-commerce sector, carbon emissions and waste have also reached serious levels. Processes such as the frequency of cargo vehicles entering traffic, hasty logistics planning and unnecessary packaging use are straining the carrying capacity of our planet.
However, it is not possible to completely eliminate this sector. E-commerce, which responds to the needs of the modern world, has now become an inseparable part of our lives.
So let’s come to our main question, are more sustainable solutions possible within this system?
At this point, Galaxus, one of Europe’s leading online retailers, comes up with a simple but striking question:
“Not an urgent order?”
Who is Galaxus?
Galaxus, based in Switzerland, is a digital shopping platform that started operating in 2012 and quickly expanded to many European countries, especially Germany. It generally has a strong product range in categories such as technology products, home living, cosmetics and outdoor.
However, the main difference that sets Galaxus apart from its peers is its communication language and operational transparency.
In addition to the humorous and honest language it uses, it has a structure that does not hide its impact on the environment and takes responsibility to improve it.
What Did Galaxus Do?
Galaxus offers users an unusual option on the payment screen:
“Not an urgent order?”
Users who select this option accept that their orders will be delivered a few days later, but support Galaxus in restructuring its logistics chain, reducing carbon emissions and running an environmentally friendly operation.
What Does Slow Delivery Mean Operationally?
Slow delivery allows the company to act with more suitable time and route planning without processing the order immediately.
Galaxus uses this strategy in the following points:
Creates bulk delivery opportunities: Orders on the same route are brought together.
Increases cargo fill rate: Fewer gaps mean fewer trips.
Optimizes warehouse and personnel planning: As speed pressure decreases, the error rate also decreases.
Energy and packaging consumption decreases: Waste is reduced thanks to careful packaging and planned processes.
This strategy also gives Galaxus’ logistics partners a breath of fresh air. Quality is prioritized over speed.
Does It Really Have a Big Environmental Impact?
The fast delivery option, referred to as last-mile delivery, accounts for approximately 50% of total delivery emissions.*
Galaxus’ environmental contribution with its slow delivery application:
- Reduces carbon emissions per delivery.
- Reduces unnecessary cargo trips.
- Minimizes energy and material waste.
But we have to be honest. This contribution represents a very small percentage compared to the overall carbon emission of a large structure like Galaxus.
However, this smallness does not mean meaninglessness. Because being a pioneer means taking the first step to change something. This option both transforms Galaxus’ internal processes and creates an opportunity for the consumer to choose with awareness by saying “the decision is yours”.
The Double Faces of E-Commerce: Comfort or Crisis?
Online shopping has made our lives easier. But it has also increased our carbon footprint.
Orders placed for instant needs or desires, dozens of cargo vehicles that go out for a single cable, courier vehicles returning empty on the road…
On the one hand, promises of fast delivery, on the other hand, insufficient efforts against the global climate crisis…
That is why small but bold moves like Galaxus’ are very important in creating collective awareness.
What Message Does It Send to the Consumer?
“It doesn’t have to be fast. It is possible to deliver at the right time and in the right way.”
This message is not only environmentally friendly, but also paves the way for conscious consumer habits.
A Small Option, A Big Change of Direction
Yes, Galaxus’ slow delivery model alone will not save the world. But we have a company that is involved in the system that pollutes the world and is trying to make it less harmful. That is something.
Because the real issue lies in this question:
“Always faster? Or more sustainable?”
And the answer to this question belongs not only to brands, but to all of us because we direct the strategies of brands with our consumption habits.
A Note from Reppatch:
At Reppatch, we believe that production, consumption and even delivery should be slow but effective. This move, which shows that responsible consumption is possible, reminds us that:
We can be a part of the change even by pressing a button.
