The Cost of Convenience: How 10-Minute Delivery Apps are Harming Sustainability

It is the epitome of convenience; the groceries that would have taken you over an hour to purchase by yourself can now reach your doorstep in as little as ten minutes. But while you unpack your organic bananas and oat milk, take a moment to reflect – what is the true cost of this convenience?

With the ability to transport anything, from groceries to electronics in as little as ten minutes, the instant commerce sector is gaining popularity and expanding quickly. Even so, quick commerce is tainted by a silent trail of carbon emissions, packaging waste, and overworked gig workers in the rush to deliver everything instantly. 

The Rise of Instant Gratification

The concept of quick commerce germinated during the pandemic era and has evolved into a mainstream service in half a decade. From New York to Nairobi, and London to Lagos, ultra-fast delivery services like Getir, Gorillas, Jokr, Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart have transformed the way we shop. In a world where instant gratification is becoming more and more prevalent, these platforms offer convenience that customers have come to heavily rely on. 

However, the hidden environmental costs, the burden on last-mile logistics, and the unstable working conditions of gig economy workers are a dark reality that lay behind this convenient last-minute shopping and quick fulfilment. There are serious concerns about whether speed is coming at the expense of sustainability as these services' effects spread throughout the world.

Urban Challenges

The constant movement of two-wheelers, vans, and micro-vehicles entrusted with reaching near-impossible delivery deadlines has resulted in increased urban pollution in major cities worldwide.

• Traffic Congestion

In places like London, Delhi, and São Paulo, delivery riders compete for space on already overcrowded highways. According to the World Economic Forum, the demand for urban last-mile delivery will increase by 78% by 2030, which might bring 36% more delivery vehicles onto city streets. This surge will result in longer travel times for all commuters, more idle time, and an increase in fuel consumption, particularly in locations where traffic is poorly managed.

• Overpackaging Crisis

Overuse of materials, especially plastics and composite components, is a major cause of landfill overflow, ecosystem damage, and carbon emissions. The difficulty in recycling many packaging materials will heavily burden urban waste management systems. The issue is particularly acute in areas where quick parcel delivery has led to an increase of ‘e-commerce waste’. This trend necessitates more environmentally friendly packing procedures and systems.

The Hidden environmental cost behind Quick delivery

Last-mile distribution (LMD) in business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce is described as one of the most expensive, least efficient, and most polluting stages of the supply chain. The increase in B2C e-commerce has led to a higher frequency of transports, contributing to environmental impact.

The Facts: 

• A 30% demand for express deliveries caused an increase of approximately 40% in TMT
• A demand for 30% express deliveries with a consolidation of 9 packages per vehicle resulted in an increase of approximately 30% in the fleet size.
• The transport of goods globally was responsible for 37% of total GHG emissions from online shopping in 2020.
• It is estimated that by 2030, the number of delivery vehicles will increase by 36% (to approx. 7.2 million), leading to an increase of about 6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions and higher traffic congestion.
• Globally, 3 billion trees are pulped yearly to produce 241 million tons of shipping cartons.
• In China in 2020, 83 billion express parcels generated 1.8 million tonnes of plastic waste and nearly 10 million tonnes of paper waste.

These statistics indicate that the consumer demand for speed and convenience is a key driver of these hazardous environmental impacts.

Potential Solutions and Sustainable Alternatives:

• Eco-Friendly Delivery Methods:  

Sustainable packaging is a crucial aspect of eco-friendly last-mile delivery. Reducing packaging waste and using recyclable or biodegradable materials can significantly lessen the environmental footprint of deliveries.

Innovative green delivery methods, such as cargo bikes and drones, offer eco-friendly alternatives to traditional delivery vehicles. Cargo bikes are particularly effective in urban areas, where traffic congestion can be a significant challenge. They produce zero emissions and can navigate through dense city streets more efficiently than cars or trucks.

• Optimized Delivery Scheduling:

Michael Zimmerman, a partner at the global management consulting firm Kearney based in Chicago, stated that a leading consumer packaged goods company revamped its supply chain to cut total travel distance by 11%.

Effective route planning plays a crucial role in lowering the environmental footprint of last-mile deliveries. By optimizing delivery routes, companies can cut down on fuel use and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
                                                                                                                  
Additionally, setting up local delivery hubs helps shorten delivery distances and times by acting as regional storage points before final delivery. This decentralized approach to distribution reduces travel distances for each delivery, further decreasing emissions and fuel consumption.

• Consumer Awareness: 

Researchers discovered that expedited shipping can raise costs by as much as 68% and boost overall carbon emissions by up to 15%. They also found that environmental reasons for choosing slower delivery were more persuasive than financial incentives. The most successful approach to encourage customers to wait was to frame their fast delivery options in terms of environmental benefits, such as the impact on trees.

Providing choices like scheduled delivery slots or click-and-collect services helps prevent missed deliveries and reduces unnecessary trips. Promoting the use of extended delivery windows can further improve route efficiency and lower carbon emissions.

Encouraging customers to participate in sustainable actions, like recycling packaging or opting for eco-friendly delivery methods, promotes a collective dedication to environmental stewardship. This teamwork benefits both the company and the planet.

• Upskilling to Stay Updated

With more companies waking up to the need for sustainability-focused strategies, professionals must keep upskilling and nurturing their knowledge. For full-time professionals on a budget, UniAthena's PG Certificate in Environmental Impact Assessment is a convenient and accessible online certification program that offers actionable insights into decoding the true effect of organizational activities on the planet. 

Keeping one's skills sharp with such certifications and online training programs is key to staying abreast in a rapidly changing commercial landscape, where the pursuit of instant gratification may eclipse environmental concerns.

Conclusion: Balancing Convenience and Sustainability

Ultra-fast delivery services have transformed online shopping, but they also leave a heavy impact — increasing urban congestion, pollution  and overconsumption habits. As cities grow more strained, the negative impact of speed can no longer be ignored. 

To move forward responsibly, consumers must rethink ultra-fast delivery, companies must redesign logistics, and policymakers must enact balanced regulations. The future of convenience should not come at the expense of our planet or people. It’s time to deliver smarter—not just faster.

Sources:

• Pereira Marcilio Nogueira, G., José de Assis Rangel, J., Rossi Croce, P. and Almeida Peixoto, T. (2022) ‘The environmental impact of fast delivery B2C e-commerce in outbound logistics operations: A simulation approach’, Cleaner Logistics and Supply Chain, 5, p. 100070. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clscn.2022.100070 (Accessed: 10 May 2025).
• Igini, M. (2024). The Truth About Online Shopping and its Environmental Impact. [online] Earth.org. Available at: https://earth.org/online-shopping-and-its-environmental-impact/.[Accessed 6 May 2025].
• Fairwork, 2025. Fairwork: Homepage. [online] Available at: https://fair.work/en/fw/homepage/ [Accessed 6 May 2025].
• Lawton, G. (2021) ‘10 strategies for more sustainable last-mile delivery’, TechTarget. Available at: https://www.techtarget.com/searcherp/feature/10-strategies-for-more-sustainable-last-mile-delivery (Accessed: 10 May 2025).
• Roundtrip.ai. (n.d.) ‘Sustainable Strategies for Last-Mile Delivery’. Roundtrip. Available at: https://www.roundtrip.ai/articles/sustainable-strategies-last-mile-delivery (Accessed: 10 May 2025).