Retailers don't have to wait for electric vehicles to cut emissions, operational efficiency can make a difference today. Black Friday keeps getting bigger every year. In the US alone, online sales will pass $10 billion over the weekend. Millions of parcels hit the roads, releasing millions of tonnes of CO in just a few days.

And Ireland is no exception. The average Irish consumer is expected to spend €329 over the Black Friday period, with 63% of sales taking place online. That means a surge in home deliveries right across the country and a sharp rise in vehicle emissions as vans race to meet tight delivery windows (PWC).

Sustainability strategies for Black Friday

Some of the larger retailers are trying to get greener, but their plans are far off. IKEA has targets for electric deliveries by 2028, while Amazon and Currys aim for net zero by 2040. These goals are important, but they take time. Charging infrastructure, vehicle supply, and range limitations mean electric fleets cannot scale overnight.

"The problem is that everyone's waiting for the future to fix the present," says David Walsh, CEO of SmartRoutes. "If retailers focused on using what they already have more efficiently, they could cut a fifth of delivery emissions almost overnight."

Smarter planning can make a big difference. By consolidating stops, reducing duplicated routes, and grouping orders efficiently, retailers can reduce total distance driven by 15 to 20 percent. Over a peak week like Black Friday, that is the equivalent of taking more than 300,000 cars off the road.

"The final mile is where a lot of the waste happens," Walsh adds. "You'll see two vans from the same retailer passing each other on the same street. That is completely avoidable."

Consumers are also making more sustainable choices. Many choose to group deliveries if it means fewer trips. That creates pressure for retailers to reduce delivery emissions, not just focus on packaging or product sustainability.

There is also a clear business case. Every mile avoided saves fuel and time. For large retailers, the savings can be significant, while still meeting customer expectations.

Black Friday is the busiest delivery period of the year, but it also offers the biggest opportunity to make a measurable difference. Electrification will shape the future, but smarter delivery planning can reduce emissions today.

Author bio:

Caroline Hassett is a content marketer with over seven years of experience, working with SaaS companies to communicate complex technology and business topics. She writes about trends in technology, logistics and last-mile delivery.

Company bio:

SmartRoutes is an Irish delivery operations platform focused on helping businesses plan efficient, lower-emission delivery routes. Its research explores ways retailers can reduce carbon emissions in logistics and the final mile.

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