The environmental impact of purchase mobility in France: Determinants and individual heterogeneity

• Individual carbon footprints from online shopping are estimated using survey data. • The top 20% of emitters generate between 65% and 70% of emissions. • Top emitters shop more, travel farther, use cars more, and have higher emissions. • Environmental footprints rise as travel linked to online shopping increases. • Density’s effect on distance and emissions varies with delivery conditions. What is the environmental footprint of shopping-related mobility and how are emissions distributed among individuals? We approach this question by estimating individual pollutant footprints, using a survey of travel practices linked to goods purchases by French households, which we combine with emission factors for NOx, PM 2.5 and CO 2 . The results show that the top 20% of emitters account for between 65% and 74% of emissions from representative trips. At the individual level, these top emitters have higher purchase frequencies, travel longer distances, are highly dependent on cars, and have high emission intensities when traveling by car. The characteristics most strongly associated with high emission levels are living in a high-density area, being female, having a low income, and preferring home delivery. In addition, increased frequency of trips to relay points is correlated with higher emissions of local pollutants (NOx, PM2.5). In summary, individual environmental footprints associated with online purchases increase with the intensification of shopping trips, which is itself driven by a higher frequency of online purchases and a greater propensity to use the car.