73% of consumers would like all home deliveries in a low carbon manner such as electric vehicles

73% of consumers would like all home deliveries in a low carbon manner such as electric vehicles

Three in four consumers (73%) would like all their home deliveries to be delivered in a low carbon manner such as electric vehicles, cargo bikes, or walking in the next 5 years, according to new findings1. The research, from EO Charging (“EO”), a leading developer of electric vehicle charge-points and charging software, reveals that consumer concerns over the environmental impact of their home deliveries has surged alongside their reliance on them in lockdown.

 

The number of online orders people make for goods to be delivered to their home has shot up by 35 percent since the beginning of the pandemic. The increase is particularly marked amongst younger adults, with 18-24 year-olds having increased their home deliveries by 41 percent and 25-34 year-olds by 44 percent. Adults aged 44 and under now make an average of 10 online orders a month for home delivery from food to clothing and household goods.

 

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Concerns over the impact of home deliveries are also rising, particularly amongst the younger age groups responsible for the most home deliveries. Two-thirds of 18-24 year-olds (66%) and 63% of 25-34 year-olds say they have become more aware of the environmental impact of their home deliveries since the start of the pandemic, compared to 50% across all age groups.

 

Three-quarters of those aged 18-34 (76%) say they would prefer to buy products from companies that deliver them in an environmentally friendly manner, and a similar proportion (76% of 18-24 year-olds and 78% of 25-34 year-olds) would be likely to use a green delivery option if one was available on the online shopping websites they use. Almost two-thirds (63%) of 18-24 year-olds would even be willing to pay an additional charge for a delivery that was environmentally friendly.

 

Charlie Jardine, CEO and Founder of EO, commented: “Three national lockdowns have really cemented the increased likelihood for people to buy goods online and get them delivered to their doorstep – but they are also aware that all these deliveries come at a cost to the planet. A large majority of people are keen to see all their home deliveries arriving in a low-carbon manner in the next five years, whether that is by electric vehicle, cargo bike or on foot.”

 

Many of the companies responsible for the most deliveries around the country are already investing in low-carbon solutions such as electric vehicles, with a snapshot survey of announcements made by the UK’s preferred parcel delivery companies2 suggesting that 7 out of 8 of them have already made commitments to integrate EVs into their fleets or have already started using them.

 

EO, which designs and manufactures electric vehicle charging stations and cloud-based charge-point management software for fleets, says the surging interest in electric fleets is driving a huge amount of growth.

 

Charlie Jardine said: “The environmental challenge of home deliveries is significant but it’s one that a lot of large delivery fleet owners are taking seriously. As a business we have seen our revenues more than treble in each of the past three years but demand has visibly surged in the past 12 months and a big part of that is due to delivery companies.”

 

EO, whose strategy has focused on business fleets rather than consumer vehicles and whose clients include Ocado, Sainsbury’s and DHL, experienced record revenue growth in 2020 fuelled by some major contract wins with global logistics and delivery companies in the UK and overseas.

 

It has designed, manufactured and installed a network of electric charging stations to power Amazon’s growing fleet of electric vehicles in the UK, and is providing software and maintenance services for the whole Amazon electric fleet in Europe.

 

Jardine added: ‘Many businesses have been planning for a switch to electric vehicle fleets for some time, but the governmental commitment and support to the EV sector, combined with increasing consumer concerns over the impact of home deliveries, has really super-charged their plans. The level of interest in implementing EV infrastructure is going up and up and it is helping us to continue our fast growth trajectory.”

 

Consumer attitudes to the environmental impact of home deliveries, by age group1

18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
I worry about the impact of my online shopping on the environment 69% 58% 55% 35% 28% 19%
I have become more conscious of the environmental impact of my online shopping since the start of the pandemic 66% 63% 55% 45% 35% 29%
I take measures to consider the environmental impact of my online shopping e.g. grouping deliveries or minimising returns 65% 65% 60% 53% 49% 46%
I would prefer to buy products from companies that deliver them in an environmentally friendly manner 76% 76% 73% 69% 67% 72%
I would be willing to pay an additional charge for a delivery that was environmentally friendly 63% 59% 55% 43% 42% 39%
If a ‘green delivery’ option was available on the online shopping sites I use, I would be likely to use it 76% 78% 74% 67% 65% 70%
I would usually be happy to wait longer for my deliveries if it meant they were able to be grouped more efficiently therefore reducing pollution 68% 73% 69% 70% 73% 72%
I would like all my home deliveries to be delivered in a low carbon manner (e.g. electric vehicles, cargo bikes, walking) in the next 5 years 76% 77% 78% 69% 70% 69%

 

Research commissioned by EO Charging and conducted online by Savanta amongst 1,503 UK adults aged 18+ between 11th-12th January 2021.

2 Top 8 preferred parcel delivery companies as provided by Statista https://www.statista.com/statistics/1069943/uk-most-preferred-parcel-delivery-providers/

To learn more, please visit www.EOcharging.com

 

For information on charging your EV at home please see our guide Charging your Electric Vehicle at home, what do you need to know?

 

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