The boom in ultra-cheap online shopping is not only putting growing pressure on the global air cargo system, but also raising urgent questions about its environmental impact, according to the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK (CILT UK). With air freight among the most carbon-intensive forms of transport, should consumers be paying more to help offset the environmental cost of fast, low-value deliveries?
Millions of low-cost items ordered from overseas – often costing just a few pounds or even pennies – are now being flown thousands of miles directly to customers. Instead of shipping goods in bulk, companies are sending individual parcels by air to keep delivery fast.
Experts say this is a major shift in how goods move around the world. Air cargo networks, which were designed to carry large shipments, are now dealing with huge numbers of small packages. This means more sorting, more handling, and more pressure on already busy systems.
Much of this growth is being driven by Chinese e-commerce platforms, which ship products directly from factories to customers in the UK and across Europe.
Chris Tarry, Chair of the Aviation Policy Group at CILT (UK), said: “We are seeing a fundamental shift in the nature of air cargo. What used to be about large shipments is now increasingly about millions of small parcels. This puts extra pressure on the system, as volumes rise but capacity and infrastructure haven’t changed in the same way.”
The surge in online shopping is also increasing demand for limited cargo space on aircraft, especially on busy international routes. At the same time, handling millions of small parcels is more complicated than dealing with bulk freight, adding strain to airport operations and logistics networks. This can slow down processes on the ground and create knock-on pressure across the wider aviation system.
CILT (UK) says the trend is likely to continue as shoppers demand fast delivery at low prices – but warns this comes with growing environmental consequences. Flying large volumes of low-value goods around the world risks undermining wider aviation sustainability goals and efforts to reach net zero.
Industry experts say this raises difficult questions about whether the true cost of ultra-cheap online shopping is being fully reflected. There is increasing debate over whether additional charges, taxes or policy measures should be introduced to better account for environmental damage and support sustainability targets.
However, experts say there are steps that could help reduce the strain. These include:
Investing in more advanced sorting and handling technology at airports
Expanding cargo capacity and improving infrastructure on key routes
Encouraging greater use of slower, more efficient transport like sea freight for low-value goods
Improving coordination between retailers, logistics firms and airlines
Reviewing how supply chains are structured to reduce reliance on individual air shipments
Opening up debate on whether consumers should pay more for ultra-cheap goods to help offset environmental impact and support sustainability goals
Chris Tarry added: “There is also a wider sustainability question. Moving very low-value goods by air at scale has an environmental cost, and it is right that the industry and policymakers consider whether current models fully reflect that. If we are serious about net zero, these trends cannot be ignored. The system can adapt, but it will require better planning, investment and a rethink of how goods are moved globally. Without that, the pressure we’re seeing today is only likely to increase.”