The environmental impact of each online purchase: An examination

In the digital age, the way we shop for groceries has drastically changed. One such innovation is the drive shopping system, a service that allows customers to order their groceries online and pick them up curbside.

This system, first introduced in 1997 under the name DriveMarché, has evolved significantly due to the rise of digital solutions and widespread access to the web. The process is designed to make shopping more convenient, with main arguments including finding products more quickly, eliminating checkout wait times, and better spending management.

The online sales site for the drive system contains all the images, descriptions, and real-time quantities of products for each store in France. Upon arrival, products are packed in 3 large plastic bags during order pickup.

Analyzing consumer behaviour is easier with this system, as data points such as search history, cart contents, and purchasing history can be studied. However, the effectiveness of the search function on the drive system's online sales site may vary, with users needing to know the exact name of what they're looking for to find all desired products.

The drive system has a significant environmental impact due to the large amount of data storage and real-time updates required. On the other hand, online shopping via the drive system has a greater ecological impact compared to in-store shopping, but it may lead to less spending and waste.

The author prefers to do in-store shopping for fresh air and to use reusable bags. Yet, the question remains, have online shopping habits changed since the pandemic? In 2020, 138 supermarkets were equipped with a drive in France. The drive shopping service was first implemented by McDonald's as part of their innovative self-service concept introduced in 1948, following the opening of their first restaurant in 1940 by the McDonald brothers in San Bernardino, California.

Interestingly, the drive system for picking up groceries by car is offered for free by most major retailers, making it an accessible option for many consumers. As we move forward, it will be interesting to see how this system continues to evolve and adapt to meet the changing needs of consumers.