Average number of products bought per e-commerce order worldwide 2024

E-commerce transactions continue to evolve, with the average number of products per order reaching 4.95 in 2024. This figure peaked at 5.12 units per transaction in February, highlighting the growing consumer preference for bundling purchases in online shopping. As e-commerce expands, so does its environmental impact, prompting concerns about sustainability in the digital retaillandscape. 

Environmental costs of e-commerce

The environmental toll of e-commerce is set to increase significantly in urban areas by 2030. Projections indicate that delivery fleets could grow to 7.2 million vehicles, generating 25 million metric tons of carbon emissions from parcel and freight shipping. This surge in e-commerce activity is expected to extend average commute times, including last-mile delivery, from 53 minutes in 2019 to 64 minutes by 2030.

E-commerce's carbon footprint

As the e-commerce sector grapples with its environmental impact, some progress is being made. The volume of returned merchandise in U.S. landfills, which nearly doubled between 2020 and 2021 to 4.34 million tons, saw a slight decline in 2022. Similarly, greenhouse gas emissions from transporting returns decreased from 27 million metric tons of CO2 in 2021 to under 24 million metric tons in 2022.