ColiPoste, the parcel arm of the French postal operator La Poste, has launched a new toolmeasuring the environmental impact of purchases made online and at a store, enabling customers to
calculate their CO2 savings achieved through shopping via internet.Accessible through the website www.colissimo.fr, the so-called eco-comparator allowscustomers to estimate the main impact of an order made online versus a “physical” purchase effectedat a shop. According to a study by the French E-commerce Association Fevad, shopping online canreduce the CO2 emissions generated through transport by 75%. The tool thus enables shoppers tocompare their CO2 footprint depending on their purchasing method.
The eco-comparator provides a questionnaire that users have to answer related to the type ofproduct purchased, the distance covered, the time spent on the internet, etc. According to theresults, the impact of the two purchasing methods (online shopping or in-store purchases) is basedon the following criteria: greenhouse emissions; emissions of the local pollutants, includingsulphur dioxide and particles; the time spent; the transport costs.
The eco-comparator calculates the environmental impact of transport of a product at allstages over the internet, from the arrival at a depot in France from the retailer until the finaldelivery of a parcel to the customer receiving it. The same stages are calculated accordingly forproducts bought physically at a store. The packaging and energy consumption resulting from theinternet use (the computer of the customer and the server of the retailer) are also taken intoconsideration.
In line with La Poste’s environmental commitment, its 15 parcel sorting centres are equippedwith a special system managing the environmental footprint and certified with ISO 14001. Thissystem aims to optimise the management of waste, reduce energy consumption and water and preventpollution.
La Poste’s eco fleet currently comprises 270 electric cars, 110 electric Quads and 8,000electric bikes. In addition, the group has also placed an order for 10,000 additional electric carsas part of an ongoing bulk purchase.
