As e-commerce continues to expand across Europe, the environmental impact of parcel delivery is becoming increasingly important. More online orders usually mean more delivery vehicles, more stops, more congestion, and higher emissions—especially during the last mile.

Poland, however, has developed one of the most efficient e-commerce delivery models in the European Union.

There is no official EU ranking that identifies one country as the greenest market for e-commerce delivery. Nevertheless, Poland has the strongest claim thanks to its dense parcel-locker network, widespread consumer adoption and highly consolidated last-mile delivery system.

Why last-mile delivery is an environmental problem

The last mile is often one of the least efficient stages of e-commerce logistics.

Large trucks can transport thousands of parcels between fulfillment centers and regional depots. Once those parcels enter the final delivery stage, they must be distributed across hundreds of individual addresses.

Traditional home delivery can involve:

• Fragmented delivery routes
• Frequent stops and vehicle idling
• Failed delivery attempts
• Repeat journeys
• Increased urban congestion
• Higher emissions per parcel

Parcel lockers help address this problem by allowing carriers to deliver dozens of orders to a single location rather than visiting each customer individually.

This is where Poland has gained a significant advantage.

Poland has Europe’s densest parcel-locker network

Parcel lockers are not a niche delivery option in Poland. They are a central part of the country’s e-commerce infrastructure.

Recent industry estimates indicate that Poland has more than one parcel locker per 1,000 inhabitants, the highest density in Europe. The total national network is estimated at approximately 45,000 to 47,000 automated parcel machines.

InPost is the country’s dominant operator. At the end of the first quarter of 2025, the company operated 25,949 automated parcel machines in Poland, representing annual growth of around 15%.

Competition is also increasing. Allegro, DHL, DPD, Orlen and other operators continue to expand their own locker and pickup-point networks.

This means Polish consumers can frequently find a locker close to their home, workplace, supermarket or daily commuting route.

How parcel lockers reduce delivery emissions

The environmental benefit of parcel lockers is based on consolidation.

A courier delivering 50 parcels to individual homes may need to make dozens of separate stops. The same 50 parcels can potentially be delivered to one or two automated machines.

This can reduce:

• Kilometers driven per parcel
• Delivery vehicle stops
• Time spent idling
• Failed delivery attempts
• Repeat journeys
• Residential traffic congestion

InPost has reported that deliveries to its automated parcel machines generate significantly lower emissions per parcel than home delivery. The company has also estimated that its locker network avoided more than 180,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in Poland in 2020.

These numbers are based on company calculations rather than a standardized EU methodology, so they should be interpreted carefully. However, the operational principle is clear: delivering many parcels to one location is usually more efficient than delivering them individually.

Consumer behavior strengthens the Polish model

Parcel lockers are not automatically sustainable. If customers drive several kilometers solely to collect an order, part of the emissions advantage can disappear. Locker location and consumer behavior are therefore essential.

Poland performs particularly well because parcel collection is often integrated into everyday journeys.

Industry research suggests that approximately 62% of Polish users collect parcels while already traveling for another purpose. In urban areas, the average distance to a locker has been estimated at around 350 meters.

This makes it more likely that customers will collect parcels while walking, commuting, shopping or traveling home from work.

The density of Poland’s network is therefore one of its greatest strengths. The closer lockers are to consumers, the less likely they are to require a separate car journey.

Fewer failed deliveries

Failed home deliveries create additional emissions and costs. When a customer is unavailable, the carrier may need to attempt delivery again, redirect the parcel or return it to a depot.

Parcel lockers largely eliminate this issue. Once the parcel is deposited, the delivery is complete, and the customer can collect it at a convenient time.

This improves first-attempt delivery rates and allows carriers to organize more predictable and efficient routes.

Sustainability without sacrificing convenience

One reason the Polish model has grown so quickly is that parcel lockers are not only more efficient. They are also convenient.

They offer consumers:

• 24-hour availability
• No need to remain at home
• Flexible collection times
• Contactless access
• Easier returns
• Often lower delivery costs

Poland shows that sustainable delivery models are more likely to succeed when the environmentally preferable option is also the easiest option.

Consumers may choose lockers primarily for convenience, but the result is still a more consolidated and potentially lower-emission delivery network.

A scalable response to growing parcel volumes

Poland is one of Europe’s fastest-developing e-commerce markets.

Polish logistics forecasts suggested that parcel operators could handle approximately 1.34 billion shipments in 2025, compared with around 1.21 billion in 2024.

Managing this growth entirely through home delivery would create additional pressure on roads, fleets and urban areas.

Poland’s out-of-home delivery infrastructure allows the market to absorb rising parcel volumes without requiring an equivalent increase in individual residential delivery stops.

It does not make the entire e-commerce supply chain carbon-free. Fulfillment centers, long-distance transport, packaging, returns and electricity consumption still generate emissions.

However, it provides a scalable way to make the last mile more efficient.

Is Poland officially the EU’s greenest delivery market?

Poland has not been officially recognized as the EU’s greenest country for e-commerce delivery.

There is currently no European index that compares all member states using the same indicators, such as:

• Emissions per parcel
• Electric vehicle adoption
• Locker utilisation
• Failed-delivery rates
• Customer collection distance
• Returns emissions
• Renewable energy use

Countries such as Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands also have strong sustainability credentials.

Nordic markets are advanced in electric delivery fleets and fossil-free fuels, while Germany and the Netherlands have invested heavily in electric vans, cargo bikes and zero-emission urban logistics.

Poland’s strength is different. It has created Europe’s most developed consolidated parcel-delivery ecosystem.

For this reason, it is more accurate to describe Poland as the EU leader in eco-efficient e-commerce delivery infrastructure rather than as the officially greenest delivery country.

What e-commerce companies can learn from Poland?

The Polish model offers several lessons for European retailers and logistics providers.

Make out-of-home delivery visible

Parcel lockers should be offered prominently during checkout instead of appearing as a secondary option.

Prioritize convenient locations

Lockers deliver the greatest environmental benefit when they are close to homes, workplaces, shops and public transport.

Encourage consolidated delivery

Retailers can promote lockers through lower prices, loyalty rewards or clear sustainability information.

Integrate returns

Using the same network for deliveries and returns can reduce home collections and simplify reverse logistics.

Combine lockers with cleaner vehicles

The most sustainable model combines parcel consolidation with electric vans, cargo bikes, renewable electricity and route optimization.

Poland offers a blueprint for Europe’s greener last mile

Poland’s position as a leader in eco-friendly e-commerce delivery is based on structural efficiency rather than a single environmental initiative.

Its dense parcel-locker network reduces the number of stops required to deliver growing volumes of online orders. Widespread consumer adoption also means that lockers are integrated into daily life rather than treated as an occasional alternative.

The system is not completely emission-free, and its environmental performance still depends on vehicle type, locker location and customer behavior.

Nevertheless, Poland offers one of Europe’s clearest examples of how convenience, efficiency and sustainability can support one another.

As e-commerce parcel volumes continue to rise, Poland’s delivery model could become an increasingly important blueprint for building a greener and more scalable European last mile.

The post Poland Emerges as the EU Leader in Eco-Friendly E-Commerce Deliveries appeared first on Cross-Border Magazine.

Over 50% of online shoppers will be willing to wait longer for their purchases if they are shipped in a sustainable way or come from sustainable brands. 

This figure comes from a survey by software supplier Descartes Systems Group, with a statistical universe of 8.000 consumers assorted from Canada, the United States, and 9 European countries: the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and France.

Do you want to know more about international commerce and e-commerce, and also get all the tips and news that might give your company an edge? Subscribe to Cross-Border Magazine and get your digital copy now for free!

Yet the same survey also hinted at the fact that only 1 in 5 customers are prepared to pay extra for eco-friendly delivery. 

Groceries and fashion consumers are the most environmentally aware

Consumers are most worried about the environment when shopping for groceries and fashion. For example, in France, 49%, Germany 48%, and Belgium 46% of the consumers think about sustainability when buying groceries and fashion. 

Particularly when buying shoes and clothing, with an overall mark of 35% across all countries. 

Still, there are vast differences in the environmental awareness of consumers in each country: in Germany, people have more environmental worries about groceries - 46% - while the Netherlands scores lowest in this segment - 21% - For supermarket groceries, more than half of people are prepared to pick up their order if it is more sustainable. When shopping for fashion, as many as 45% are prepared to do so.

All in all, these numbers will surely keep on growing due to the fact that the raw percentage of people concerned about sustainability is rapidly growing among Millenials and Gen Z.

The post Over 50% of online shoppers willing to wait longer for sustainable products appeared first on Cross-Border Magazine.

Sustainability is constantly mentioned by everyone nowadays. Yet, we keep failing at implement it in a proper and - forgive us the obvious pun - sustainable way. 

That's why today we want to join forces with our friends from Linker to talk about this vital subject and offer all of our reader access to an amazing tool: Linker's e-book 'Sustainable Logistics: The Need for Green Growth' 

This e-book deals with the key pain points of current logistic concerning sustainability, and does it by presenting a remarkably coherent and truthful approach: to achieve a future of sustainable logistics, we need to understand that this is a matter that involves all us. From the customer to the brand, including the logistic operator or purveyor, the only way to achieve sustainability is to change the way the whole system currently operates. 

And Linker in this e-book 'Sustainable Logistics: The Need for Green Growth' poses the right questions and the possible answers in five chapters: 

• Chapter 1: Current market situation description.
• Chapter 2: The role of packaging in sustainable logistics.
• Chapter 3: Shipping industry vs. climate changes.
• Chapter 4: Green warehouses: an indispensable element of a sustainable supply chain.
• Chapter 5: The ecological side of fulfillment and last-mile delivery.

This e-book was created as joint effort of Linker Cloud, Packhelp, Direct Link, Cushman & Wakefield. 

Finally, we would like to quote the words of Daniel Kierdal, CEO at Linker who aptly surmises the spirit of this amazing e-book:

We are part of a larger environmental, so-
cial, and economic ecosystem for which we
are responsible, both as service providers
and consumers. It is only by joining forces
and taking action together that we can im-
prove the existing ecological situation, and
proudly say that we do it consciously.
The logistics industry does this by making
efforts, taking further steps, and chang-
ing existing business decisions - by placing
warehouses and distribution points more
efficiently, switching from convention-
al packaging materials to green solutions
based on recycled packaging or returnable
packaging, and aiming to reduce carbon
offsetting through decisions to focus on
eco-friendly delivery (including the use of
green helices, biofuels, and route optimiza-
tion programs).
We want not only to see the business world
moving in the direction of eco, but also to
be a part of it. That is why we are sharing
with you today our comprehensive report
detailing the aforementioned actions.

Daniel Kierdal, CEO at Linker

The post Sustainable Logistics: The next frontier! appeared first on Cross-Border Magazine.

Have you ever ordered frozen food online? If so, you can imagine how unsatisfying it would be to receive your frozen veggies completely defrosted? Keeping food products chilled or frozen is a challenge that lots of online food retailers struggle with. There are solutions like plastic, or expensive EPS boxes, but these do not meet the sustainable standards of today and tomorrow. To think about more sustainable alternatives, we talk to Dan Roumen, Product Manager Thermal Packaging at Ranpak.

The growing food market Food is a booming business. All day, every day, people are consuming food. As the market is this large, it is surprising to see that selling food online has grown at a much slower rate than markets like clothing and consumer electronics. In the last couple of years, the market has been catching up, and is now growing quicker than ever. Statista found that the current size of the world’s food market is expected to be $82,714m in 2018*1, which is expected to grow 10.7% per year, resulting in a market volume of $137,596m by 2023. The largest segment of the food market is the restaurant-to-consumer delivery market, with a total volume of $65.302m dollar in 2018. On a global scale, the Chinese food market is the largest in terms of turnover ($32,908m in 2018).

As the above mentioned research shows, the market is flourishing. However, there are some challenges both B2B and B2C food markets still face. One of these challenges is that a lot of food is distributed chilled or frozen. Therefore, packaging solutions that offer proper thermal protection are very important. According to Roumen, requests were filed to see if a more sustainable solution could be created. “These requests focused mainly on the question of how to keep products cold, while keeping them packaged securely. Paper is a very sustainable product which can be recycled completely and its strength makes it a perfect product to use in packaging. We created a hypothesis that paper could be used as an insulating material.”

Study temperature

In the past, solutions such as EPS boxes have been developed to keep food cold, however the boxes are far from environmental friendly. “With the knowledge that the demand for a more sustainable solution was rising, we started with our partner Antalis UK to perform research on an environmentally friendly solution. Our ultimate goal: reduce costs and create a sustainable, new kind of thermal protection that is easy to use, flexible and fully recyclable, while realising a cost reduction,” says Roumen. To offer such a solution, it is important to have a good look at all variables that need to be taken into account. “One of the most important is – obviously – the temperature profiles of the packed products. Secondly, transport and storage might differ, so these must be considered as well,” explains Roumen.

A third important variable is the “Phase Change Materials” (PCMs) and insulating materials that are being used. “We designed the tests that we wanted to perform to see if we could validate our hypotheses,” Roumen tells. “We designed WrapPak paper, a thick 70 grams waved-layers paper variant and performed temperature tests in climate chambers. While the paper was originally designed for cushioning purposes, it proved its functionality for this solution as well. Our test investigated the differences in temperature when filling the boxes with the products and one, two or three layers of the WrapPak paper as insulating materials, compared to boxes filled with foil bubble, liners, EPS panels or boxes. The results proved that the paper filling kept the products at least an equivalent period as cool or cooler for a longer period, while at the same it was more flexible and cheaper to ship the products. Regarding EPS solutions, the paper solution is much more sustainable, as it is completely recyclable, renewable and biodegradable. More layers of paper can be used to increase the insulating rate; in warmer periods an additional layer of paper can be applied.” The concluding results of the research Ranpak performed indicated that paper was a great alternative. It can be used combined with dried ice or with gel packs. “A big advantage of this paper solution is that it is easily adaptable to any size of box compared to traditional packaging techniques. It reduces the amount of filling materials used and the paper is fully recyclable, making it a cost-reducing sustainable alternative,” Roumen explains.

With a solution at hand, Ranpak started the implementation of their new solution. Diet Chef, a company that focuses on helping people who wish to lose weight by creating their meals for them, is one of the first to start with the WrapPack paper solution. “We created a machine to make the use of the paper even easier. Diet Chef now uses an ideal combination of box size and filling material which is provided by the machine in the exact amounts. It required decent training for all packers, but as the process is simple, they quickly knew how our solution worked. So far, they have provided us with extremely positive feedback,” Roumen concludes. ••

The post A Real Cool Solution appeared first on Cross-Border Magazine.