The thought counts. This holiday season, how your presents are delivered matters even more. After all, air pollution, traffic, and noisy streets shouldn’t be part of your gift.

The way our gifts travel tells a story of its own. During the peak holiday season — from Diwali to Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas, and New Year — polluting delivery vans and last-minute shipments race to bring gifts to loved ones on time. Each package adds to the festive spirit — but also to the traffic, noise, and emissions that strain our cities. The World Economic Forum warns that, under a business-as-usual scenario, last-mile delivery emissions could rise by 60% by 2030, with some cities seeing up to 80% more delivery vehicles on their streets. Polluted air harms health, traffic slows city life, and every rushed shipment adds to the climate crisis.

Yet, it doesn’t have to be this way. Thoughtful gifts deserve thoughtful deliveries — for the person receiving the gift, for the people who share the streets it travels on, and for the planet we all call home. Cities can support cleaner deliveries by setting clear emission targets, creating low-emission zones, and establishing dedicated delivery areas. Also, when retailers and delivery companies choose micro-hubs, parcel lockers, zero-emission fleets, and optimized routes — supported by cities through clear policies and infrastructure — every delivery becomes cleaner, quieter, and kinder. And when shoppers plan ahead, shop local, or choose greener delivery options, they help that care travel even further.

What can cities, retailers, and delivery companies do?

Cities, retailers, and delivery providers play a crucial role in making holiday logistics fossil-free. Transitioning to zero-emission fleets, optimizing delivery routes, and expanding shared infrastructure like micro-hubs and parcel lockers can cut emissions while easing traffic, reducing missed deliveries, and improving road safety — creating cleaner streets, quieter neighborhoods, and healthier air.

Zero-emission vehicles replace diesel or petrol vans with electric trucks and vans. Combined with optimized routes, they cut emissions, noise, and greenhouse gases, making last-mile deliveries cleaner and quieter. Micro-hubs — small local logistics centers near neighborhoods — let large trucks drop off parcels in one place, with smaller, greener vehicles or cargo bikes completing the final leg. Parcel lockers make it easier for people to collect their deliveries nearby, reducing repeated trips and traffic congestion.

To go further, collaborative logistics — where companies share delivery networks and urban infrastructure — can make every mile more efficient and sustainable. Cities, in turn, can accelerate this transition through supportive policies: setting clear emission targets, creating dedicated delivery and loading zones, and expanding low-emission or delivery-priority areas.

Large e-commerce companies also have a responsibility to adopt these practices at scale, protecting workers and communities while moving faster on climate targets. Aligning with the global goal for 100% zero-emission last-mile deliveries by 2030, and reporting progress transparently, will show real commitment to both people and the planet.

Together, these systems move packages efficiently through local networks, ensuring gifts reach their recipients sustainably — reflecting care not only for the people receiving them, but also for the cities and world they move through.

What shoppers can do: 9 ways to make deliveries greener

Even small choices by shoppers can make a big difference during the holidays. Inspired by the work of our partners at ECODES, we’ve put together this list of practical tips to help your gifts tell the right story — one of connection, care, and respect for both people and the planet.

1. Plan ahead: Shop early to avoid last-minute stress and high-emission express deliveries.

2. Shop local: Support nearby stores to reduce delivery distances, discover unique gifts, and strengthen your community.

3. Walk or bike: For local gifts, pick them up by bike or on foot to cut emissions, ease traffic, and get some fresh air along the way.

4. Combine errands with pick-ups: If you’re running errands, stop by a parcel locker or pick-up point to collect your deliveries and avoid extra trips.

5. Use pick-up points and parcel lockers: Skip multiple home deliveries by picking up your parcels at a nearby locker or pick-up point. It’s faster, more flexible, and helps cut down on repeated van trips and emissions.

6. Use eco-friendly returns: Drop off your returns instead of scheduling home pick-ups. You’ll save time, get faster refunds, and reduce extra van trips and emissions.

7. Gift experiences: Choose digital or local experiences — like concerts, classes, or community events — to create memories and avoid shipping altogether.

8. Join forces: Add your voice to initiatives like Prime Members for a Cleaner Amazon. Collective action amplifies impact and drives progress toward cleaner, fairer deliveries.

9. Advocate for change: Support local campaigns calling for zero-emission deliveries and safer streets. Cleaner air, quieter roads, and healthier cities start with all of us.

The story we can all tell together

Every delivery carries a message. The story it tells depends not just on the gift, but on how it reaches its recipient. Cities, retailers, and responsible e-commerce companies investing in fossil-free logistics, optimized routes, and cleaner delivery systems help ensure this story is one of care, not pollution.

At the same time, every mindful choice by shoppers amplifies that impact. Choosing local stores, using parcel lockers, consolidating orders, and selecting greener delivery options ensures our gifts tell the right story: thoughtful to the recipient, and kind to the world they live in.

Together, we can make sure every delivery tells a story we’re proud of — one that reaches hearts without harming the world. This holiday season, let every gift say: “I care about you — and the world we share,” and let our streets be for people, not pollution.