Black Friday highlights need for reform of freight delivery sector

Ahead of this year’s consumer frenzy that is Black Friday, Impact for Urban Health have called for reform in the freight delivery sector to reduce its effect on air quality in the UK.

The phenomena of Back Friday raises a number of environmental issues yet its propensity to add to air pollution is often overlooked.

Last year, according to research from the University of Leeds, around 400,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide was released as a result of Black Friday purchases in the UK. This year that figure is projected to increase by a further 30,000 tonnes.

Delivering these purchases, primarily motivated by the impulsive fear of missing out on a perceived bargain, will increase emissions from road freight by over 90% across Black Friday week.

To mitigate this, charity Impact for Urban Health are calling for the government to implement a national Pick Up and Drop Off strategy (PUDO) which would give more people the option to walk or cycle to send or collect a parcel.

PUDO schemes do exist in some form but as the charity point out, not enough people live close to one and many lockers are bound to a specific delivery company.

Creating a open network of PUDO points would see emissions reduced by up to 13,845 kg a year for each locker. Impact for Urban Health are asking that such a network should place 90% of the population within 250m of such a point.

Another strategy implementation they would like to see is the creation of a central government ‘last mile’ task force bringing together relevant departments, government agencies and businesses ‘to engage in co-creation of sustainable freight alternatives and promote their uptake.’

To this end the charity believe the government should offer support to support to SMEs to transition to cargo bikes by offering interest-free or fixed low-interest loans.

Matt Towner, Director of Programmes at Impact on Health said: ‘Since the pandemic we’ve seen an increase in ‘on demand’ deliveries, particularly in urban areas, which has had a significant impact on air quality. Air pollution is bad for health, it’s bad for business, our high streets, and our environment.

‘Because air pollution disproportionately affects minoritised communities, people in lower income areas, and children it’s reinforcing structural inequalities. But the solutions exist now.’