Green E-commerce Supply Chain Management

Abstract

The continuous rise of e-commerce, driven by changing consumer behavior, has brought significant value to the supply chain. However, it also generates substantial waste through packaging, energy consumption, and vehicle usage. This research aims to mitigate the environmental impact of e-commerce by reducing its carbon footprint. A detailed green e-commerce model is proposed to lower environmental impacts, enhance economic performance, and improve competitiveness. Using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) discipline, activities are analyzed from cradle to grave, focusing on packaging, transportation, and disposal as primary sources of carbon emissions. In a case study, green strategies were implemented in key activities, demonstrating that reducing transportation distances and eliminating unnecessary packaging are critical to lowering carbon footprints. The study achieved a reduction of 0.1116 kg CO2 equivalent per transaction, totaling 297,532 t CO2 equivalent in 2023. This reduction equates to a carbon credit of 32 million THB and significant cost savings of 18 million THB by eliminating materials such as plastic bags, sleeves, and order receipts.