Online is greener!

PING! An email arrives from research company IMRG, reminding us all that Monday 24 July is what they call 24/7 Day, when businesses and consumers are urged to celebrate “all that’s great about online shopping”.

Yippee! And this year’s message, the email says, is an environmental one: Go Green – Go Online!

“Every person who shops online is easing congestion on the road network while reducing emissions and fossil fuel consumption,” the company gushes.

“Now that 10% of all retail sales are online, internet shopping is beginning to make a significant contribution towards Britain achieving its carbon trading objectives.”

Whether this feel-good factor for consumers extends to those buying travel products - a significant part of the online retail landscape, but one not exactly famed for its eco-friendliness - isn’t mentioned!

But who would have thought that arguments over the future of travel distribution, between on and offline companies, could be settled by which one is the greenest?

Kevin May, editor, Travolution