E-commerce carbon assessment: challenges and method
In e-commerce, the footprint comes mainly from the products sold, last-mile delivery, returns and packaging.
Main emission sources
Products bought for resale (Scope 3) dominate, followed by logistics, returns (often underestimated), packaging and digital (website, data centres). The last mile is sensitive.
Reduce and build loyalty
Reduce returns, eco-designed packaging, consolidated low-carbon delivery, lean hosting, and selecting low-footprint products. Showing product footprints reassures customers. UltraCarbon certifies this data.
Frequently asked questions
Do returns really matter?
Yes, they add transport, processing and sometimes destruction of unsold goods. Reducing the return rate is an effective lever.
Should product footprints be shown online?
It is an asset for transparency and conversion, and anticipates environmental labelling. UltraCarbon provides certified, verifiable product footprints.
