Santa might manage his present deliveries with just one sleigh, nine reindeer and a bit of magic, but for everyone else, Christmas shopping takes a greater toll. or signup to continue reading Every year, the volume of freight being delivered Australia-wide increases as more and more people make online purchases. Qantas Freight says it will deliver more than 50,000 tonnes of international and domestic goods over the festive period, an increase of five per cent on 2023.
While some of these deliveries might feel like they could make or break Christmas, it's undeniable they are also taking a massive toll on the environment. As much as 15 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions stemmed from transport in 2019, says Martin Geissdoerfer who leads the Circular Economy Labs at Monash University's Sustainable Development Institute. "Given Australia's small manufacturing footprint, many goods, particularly from online fast fashion sites such as Temu and low-cost marketplaces such as AliExpress, travel huge distances via carbon-intensive sea, road, and air freight, contributing significantly to global emissions," Associate Professor Geissdoerfer told AAP.
While people are more familiar with the concept of sourcing local produce, freight miles often go "unnoticed", he said. "The rise of platforms like Temu and Shein highlights a paradox: while consumers seek affordability, the hidden costs of these purchases - environmental degradation and waste - are immense," he said. "Behavioural tr.
