Air Freight Pollution on the Rise as Online Shopping Booms

Recent findings by Stand Earth highlight a worrying 25% increase in pollution from air freight since 2019. The group attributes this rise to market shifts induced by COVID-19 pandemic-related travel restrictions and ongoing supply chain disruptions. Traditionally dominated by the transportation of perishable goods, luxury items, and time-sensitive deliveries, the air freight sector has expanded to include a broader array of goods due to the pandemic.

The transformation, initially perceived as a temporary response to the pandemic, appears to be solidifying into a new norm. “While FedEx, UPS, and Amazon celebrate this shift as a new standard in the shipping industry, it comes at a dire environmental cost,” states the report from Stand Earth. The collective impact of these top three companies in the air freight sector equates to the greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 4.45 million American homes.

The explosive growth of online commerce has played a significant role in this trend. Data from the US Commerce Department shows a jump from $2.1 trillion in online sales in 2019 to an estimated $3.6 trillion in 2023. Amazon’s push for rapid delivery options, including same-day or overnight delivery for Prime members, has notably driven the increase in air freight emissions.

While specialized air freight companies constitute half of this market, commercial airlines handle the remainder, often piggybacking cargo on passenger flights. Despite only 1% of global trade volume being transported by air, this method accounts for 35% of the trade’s value, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This year alone, the air freight sector is expected to ship 62 million tonnes, marking a 7.6% increase from 2019.

As the industry grapples with its environmental impact, the spotlight on these major companies intensifies, urging a reevaluation of practices to mitigate their substantial carbon footprints.

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