Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Survey Shows Majority of Public Cares About “Green Shipping"

The American public cares more about how their products are delivered to them they you may have though, at least in one sector of the shipping business.

by Staff
May 15, 2014
Survey Shows Majority of Public Cares About “Green Shipping"

 

2 min to read


The American public cares more about how their products are delivered to them they you may have though, at least in one sector of the shipping business.

More than half are willing to pay at least 5% higher prices for products ordered online if they’re delivered sustainably and 76% would wait at least one extra day for climate-friendly transport, according to a new study by business and technology consulting firm, West Monroe Partners.

Ad Loading...

“The modern consumer is paying more than lip service to environmentally-conscious decisions these days, and plenty are willing to put their money and patience where their mouths are,” said Yves Leclerc, managing director and leader of West Monroe Partners’ supply chain practice. “Given the dominance of ecommerce and trends such as same and next-day delivery, order fulfillment’s impact on the environment is a significant one. Consumers are willing to sacrifice for products delivered in ways that don’t yield damaging greenhouse gas emissions – they just need to be aware of these alternative delivery models first.”

In its Need for Green or Need for Speed study, more than 600 U.S. consumers were surveyed to determine what compromises they’d be willing to make for more sustainable delivery of products purchased online.

Highlights from the study include:

Ad Loading...
  • 12% of US consumers would pay up to 10% more for sustainable delivery.

  • Annual income was not an influential factor in consumers’ willingness to pay more for sustainable delivery. In fact, respondents who earn over $100,000 a year were slightly less likely to accept higher prices for climate-friendly transport.

  • Similarly, age had only a minor impact on attitudes toward sustainability, with 18-25 year olds slightly less likely to pay more for climate-friendly transport compared to 26-35 year olds.

However, the study does show that, if knowledgeable about the options available to them, many consumers would make at least minor concessions for more sustainable delivery.

Management and technology consultancy BearingPoint conducted the same study in Europe and found consumers there are more aware of green delivery options than those in the U.S.

Of the 1,000 European respondents BearingPoint surveyed, nearly half were aware of climate-friendly shipping alternatives and one in five has already used them. Almost 60% were willing to pay more for green shipping and 76% were willing to wait up to three days longer for sustainable delivery.

“E-commerce organizations therefore should consider new ways to promote delivery alternatives to please both consumers and shareholders,” said West Monroe Partners. “Firms should build sustainable processes into their supply chains and use tools to track and report on progress.”

 

 

More Fleet Management

Geotab Whitepaper Cargo Theft Cover
SponsoredSeptember 14, 2026

2026 Blueprint for Countering Smarter Supply Chain Theft

Cargo theft is no longer just the cost of doing business. It's a multi-billion-dollar criminal enterprise exploiting vulnerabilities across your fleet, drivers, and supply chain.

Read More →
A monitor with a bar graph with a person sitting next to it wearing a headset.
SponsoredSeptember 1, 2026

How Telematics Improves Visibility, Control, and Performance in Refrigerated Fleets

Explore how telematics help refrigerated fleets improve visibility, uptime, efficiency, compliance, and cargo protection across connected cold chain operations.

Read More →
Graphic with U.S. and Canadian flags over background illustration of an ink-stamp that says Tariffs.
Equipmentby Deborah LockridgeAugust 24, 2026

What the U.S.-Canada Trade War Means for Trucking

Escalating U.S.-Canada tariffs could disrupt cross-border freight, reduce truck volumes, raise costs, and create new uncertainty for carriers on both sides of the border.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseAugust 24, 2026

What Are Trucking’s Top Concerns for 2026?

The American Transportation Research Institute wants to know what's worrying trucking fleet managers, drivers, and other stakeholders in its annual Industry Issues survey.

Read More →
Four men in suits on the National Mall with giant video screen showing capitol building in the background
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeAugust 24, 2026

American Trucking Associations Looks for a New Leader

ATA President and CEO Chris Spear abruptly left his job at the association on August 21, at a pivotal time for the trucking industry.

Read More →
The Cyber Stop column header with photo of a smiling driver in truck with a laptop and a wi-fi icon
Fleet ManagementAugust 21, 2026

Public Wi-Fi Cybersecurity Risks: How Truck Drivers and Fleets Can Protect Their Data

Public Wi-Fi can expose truck drivers and fleets to credential theft, malware, and other cyber threats. Here’s how to reduce the risk on the road.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Woman in white blazer superimposed on background showing a row of Fraley & Schilling truck, plus the HDT Truck Fleet Innovators 2026 logo
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeAugust 19, 2026

For Nicky Cupp, Fleet Innovation Starts With Frustration

HDT Truck Fleet Innovator Nicky Cupp turns everyday pain points at Fraley & Schilling into opportunities for better technology and smarter processes.

Read More →
Headshot of Adam Buttgenbach with a Pepsi-branded Tesla Semi in the background
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeAugust 18, 2026

Adam Buttgenbach’s Approach to Electric Trucks: Start With Where They Fit

HDT Truck Fleet Innovator Adam Buttgenbach helped PepsiCo build one of North America’s largest EV fleets by focusing on where electric trucks make operational sense.

Read More →
Deen Albert in collared shirt superimposed on background showing a Grand Island Express blue tractor pulling a trailer, plus the HDT Truck Fleet Innovators 2026 logo
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeAugust 17, 2026

Deen Albert: Let Automation Do the Math, People Make the Decisions

HDT Truck Fleet Innovator Deen Albert makes sure people are still at the heart of operations at Grand Island Express, even while adopting artificial intelligence tools. AI-assisted dispatch helped boost revenue 25% with the same number of trucks.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Illustration of computer screen with Trimble Arc Agent screen
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeAugust 14, 2026

Trimble’s New AI Agent Takes Aim at Fleet Back-Office Busywork

Arc Agent works across Trimble TMS products to automate repetitive tasks such as freight orders, maintenance, invoices, fuel costs and more.

Read More →