28 July 2026 · 4 min read
Carbon footprint of UK parcel delivery in 2026
Last-mile delivery is the dirty secret of ecommerce. Here are the actual numbers.
Per-parcel emissions
Network van delivery: roughly 0.5–1.5 kg CO2 per UK parcel. Returns roughly double the footprint of an order.
What reduces it
Out-of-home delivery (lockers, parcel shops) cuts emissions ~30%. Consolidated orders (multi-item) reduce per-item CO2 sharply.
Dedicated drivers using existing journeys (like Wayspost) avoid creating new vehicle miles entirely.
What does not really matter
Cardboard vs paper void fill is a rounding error compared to the actual van trip.
FAQ
Are electric delivery vans greener?
Yes — about 60–70% lower per parcel, but still rare outside London zones.
What is the greenest UK delivery option?
Lockers, parcel shops, and rideshare-style dedicated drivers using existing trips.
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