The future of shopping and its environmental implications
The way that we shop has drastically changed. The pandemic has furthered our dependency on online and contactless shopping. Consumers are demanding more options with faster delivery times.
To meet this new demand, the food and home delivery system has received a face-lift in many different ways.
Online shopping innovations have been seen primarily in urban areas, where companies are offering deliveries in a shockingly short amount of time. For example, in the New York City area, 1520 is offering to deliver groceries to the majority of Manhattan within 15 to 20 minutes.
This service is convenient for several reasons. Some may appreciate dodging the health risks of going to a populated store, while others may need a last-minute tub of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream for a dinner party.
1520 is not the only one pioneering this fast grocery delivery market; they have plenty of competition.
While some are welcoming the future of fast-paced shopping, environmental issues within the food and produce sector are not being addressed.
The United States is one of the most wasteful countries when it comes to food, throwing away large amounts of expired goods every year. Making consumption easier does not change our mindset and the tendency to buy food in excess may add to this cycle of wastefulness. Furthermore, the food industry relies heavily on single-use plastics for packaging, adding to our culture of wastefulness.
However, there are some start-ups focused on changing how we shop for everyday goods. For example, Maine-based GoGo Refill offers a remedy, simplifying shopping with sustainability in mind. GoGo Refill offers customers the opportunity to cut plastic out of their lives.
People can use any container like a mason jar or instead buy one from GoGo to refill at one of their locations. GoGo Refill has pop-ups in places like Yarmouth, ME, making it easier for people to refill their products. They focus solely on cleaning products and everyday goods like toothpaste and hand soap.
GoGo Refill’s policy for making shopping easier while involving climate initiatives shows just how beneficial innovation can be for both people and the environment. However, this comparison is not meant to put down 1520 and other similar businesses. Rather, I think that these start-ups should follow the GoGo Refill’s example and grow into environmentally-conscious companies with all types of waste in mind.
Moving forward, as our expectations and usage for grocery and home goods shift, it is important to remember to prioritize environmentally-conscious business models, or Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance models (ESG).
This is a theme we should all continue to return to and think critically about. ESG businesses are popping up rapidly, and it is important to think about their effectiveness in combating the environmental issues we face.
~ Adrian Visscher ‘24
