Assessment of Environmental Impact in E-commerce and Traditional Retailing: A Comparative Approach in Sylhet City

Abstract

E-Commerce has revolutionized shopping in the global market and has boosted the economy of countries such as Bangladesh. However, it has also an effect on environment, for example, with CO? emission from logistic and packaging waste. This paper assesses the environmental effects of e-commerce in Sylhet City by looking at Daraz delivery centers and Shwapno outlets. The results reveal that the CO? emissions of Daraz’s covered vans are 246.86 g/km which is significantly higher than motorbikes. Shwapno’s localized model and environment friendly packaging make it less harmful to the environment, unlike Daraz’s excessive plastic use. Furthermore, biodegradable waste management, including sophisticated decomposition of perishable waste-segregation and disposition also testify Shwapno’s sustainable practices. Finally, this study highlights that the sustainable e-commerce could be achieved by utilizing the green transportation means, localized delivery systems and recyclable packaging materials. Future research should investigate the problems of integrating renewable energies and sustainable approaches.

Introduction

E-commerce has significantly grown worldwide, boosting economic development and urbanization, especially in developing countries like Bangladesh. However, this growth raises environmental concerns due to increased CO? emissions from logistics and packaging waste. This study compares e-commerce (Daraz) and traditional retail (Shwapno) operations in Sylhet City, Bangladesh, focusing on their carbon emissions and packaging practices.

Using surveys and emission calculations based on fuel consumption, the study finds that Daraz’s covered vans produce the highest CO? emissions, while Shwapno’s motorbikes emit the least. Daraz relies more on non-biodegradable packaging, whereas Shwapno uses eco-friendly materials like jute and paper bags. Waste generation at Shwapno outlets varies, increasing significantly during weekends, highlighting the need for better waste management.

The paper emphasizes optimizing delivery routes and adopting sustainable packaging to reduce environmental impacts, offering insights into greener logistics and zero-carbon strategies for urban e-commerce.

Conclusion

This study highlights the environmental impact of e-commerce in Sylhet City. Daraz’s fuel-intensive vehicles, especially during promotions, produce higher emissions than Shwapno’s low-emission motorbikes. Shwapno also uses eco-friendly packaging, unlike Daraz’s non-biodegradable materials. Waste analysis reveals inefficiencies across Shwapno outlets. These findings emphasize the need for greener delivery, sustainable packaging, and strategic waste management to reduce e-commerce’s environmental footprint in urban areas.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Minhaz Uddin, Md. Saidur Rahman Emon, Anupama Roy, Opee Chowdhury. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.