Earlier this week we published a piece about the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, who called out Amazon in an open letter and demanded they pay for the emissions they produce in the city. We can understand her sentiment: beyond the emissions that come with speedy delivery, Amazon’s trucks also clog traffic in major cities.
There’s no denying the convenience that comes with Amazon, but with that said, there are other, greener ways to get your products delivered—even on the same day that you order them. If you live in New York, for instance, and order a pair of shoes from a sustainable startup called Thousand Fell with same-day delivery, those shoes will arrive via bicycle. The startup is one of several new brands to use Ohi, a new delivery service that helps startups compete with Amazon by offering ultra-fast, low-emissions delivery.
Ohi creates what it calls “micro-warehouses” in unused retail space or offices in cities—beginning with New York City and Los Angeles—and then uses analytics software to help brands predict demand, so each warehouse can be stocked well in advance. The system means that brands can avoid the much higher environmental cost of next-day or two-day shipping on a plane. The main idea is to replace the standard distribution system that relies on larger warehouses and longer distances.
