Convenience meets sustainability: Consumers embrace out-of-home delivery as a greener alternative

London, 13 November 2024 – As consumer preferences shift towards convenience, out-of-home (OOH) delivery options are gaining momentum across Europe. A recent survey conducted by shipping platform Sendcloud reveals that 2 in 5 (40.9%) UK consumers view deliveries to service points or lockers as more environmentally friendly than traditional home delivery.

Sabi Tolou, Co-founder of Sendcloud, emphasizes the growing awareness among shoppers: “Consumers are granularly becoming more conscious of the environmental impact of their shopping habits. While the sustainability of OOH delivery can vary based on transportation methods and pickup processes, it’s clear that people are gravitating towards options they perceive as greener and more convenient.”

The study highlights varying levels of commitment to sustainable practices among consumers. While 61.4% typically drive to collect their parcels, many are making eco-friendlier choices: 45.1% walk and 23.9% bike to pick up their deliveries. The majority (77.8%) is willing to travel up to one kilometre to pick up a parcel, demonstrating a strong desire to balance convenience with sustainability.

Proximity plays a crucial role in enhancing the appeal of OOH delivery, with nearly 60% of consumers stating they would use parcel lockers or service points more frequently if they were located closer to home. Furthermore, 58% prefer OOH services that offer 24/7 access, highlighting the importance of accessibility.

“Whether out-of-home delivery significantly reduces emissions is an area that requires more study,” adds Tolou. “But we know it offers greater efficiency for couriers, enabling them to deliver more parcels at once, while providing consumers with increased flexibility in how they receive their orders. Retailers that incorporate OOH options at checkout will be well-positioned to remain competitive as consumer preferences continue to evolve.”

About Sendcloud

Sendcloud is the complete shipping platform for e-commerce – enabling retailers, marketplaces, and fulfillment companies to scale their operations and deliver great shipping experiences.

Today's consumers want to decide where, when, and how they receive an order. But meeting their needs while still making a profit is a challenge. Sendcloud solves this by centralizing and automating the entire shipping process. From label printing to branded tracking updates and returns management - Sendcloud lets you own your shipping from checkout to returns.

Backed by Softbank and trusted by 25,000 companies across Europe, Sendcloud is on a mission to solve shipping globally.