Amazon’s Distribution Facilities May Be Exposing Neighbors to Pollution, Study Finds
A recent study conducted by the University of Washington suggests that Amazon’s distribution facilities may be contributing to pollution in neighboring communities, particularly those predominantly inhabited by people of color. While the study does not directly blame Amazon for the elevated pollution levels, it highlights the company’s facilities in Seattle as representative of long-standing development trends that disproportionately burden low-income neighborhoods with freight pollution.
Amazon has disputed the study’s findings, stating that its warehouses are located in industrial parks and share space with other companies involved in shipping goods. According to Travis Fried, one of the lead researchers at UW, Amazon is not solely responsible for this issue, but rather a reflection of historical processes observed over several decades.
The study reveals that neighborhoods within two miles of Amazon’s “last mile” facilities, which include delivery stations and sortation centers, experience twice as much traffic from delivery vehicles and trucks compared to other areas in the Seattle metro region. Interestingly, the study also found that residents of these neighborhoods order 14% fewer packages than the Seattle average, indicating that they bear the pollution cost without reaping the benefits of online shopping.
The researchers emphasize the inequity between those who benefit from online shopping and those who suffer its consequences. However, the study does not compare e-commerce emissions to other freight-related emissions, making it unclear whether online shopping has accelerated existing trends or created new ones.
The focus on Amazon in this study stems from its significant presence in the online shopping landscape, accounting for nearly 38% of the U.S. e-commerce market last year. The company has made efforts to reduce its environmental impact by investing in an electric delivery fleet, sustainable packaging, and renewable energy for its data centers. Amazon has pledged to introduce 100,000 electric vans by 2030 and has already deployed 10,000 electric vans, including 300 in Seattle.
In addition to electrifying delivery vans, the researchers suggest a greater focus on improving the efficiency of trucks that transport consumer goods before they reach the “last mile” facilities. Making these trucks more efficient, whether through electric fleets or optimizing shipment capacity, would have a significant impact on communities affected by pollution.
This is not the first time Amazon has faced allegations regarding its warehouses. A Consumer Reports analysis in December 2021 revealed that Amazon tends to build warehouses in neighborhoods primarily inhabited by people of color, leading to concerns about air pollution, safety, and noise levels.
The study relied on data from 2019 and was based on information collected by the Puget Sound Regional Council, a transportation planning organization. The research coincides with Amazon’s plans to expand its warehouse network and adopt a regionalized model to expedite deliveries by storing products closer to customers’ homes.
The lead researcher, Fried, hopes that this study will prompt stakeholders to reconsider land use policies and allow companies to establish warehouses in the neighborhoods that receive the most packages. However, he emphasizes the importance of integrating these facilities into the urban fabric, citing examples from Paris where multiuse warehouses called “logistics hotels” offer amenities such as tennis courts, rooftop urban farms, or data centers.
While acknowledging that freight will always be present in cities, Fried believes that with certain changes, people can experience the benefits of warehouses and last-mile delivery facilities more positively.
Amazon responded to the study by highlighting an October study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which suggested that reduced in-person shopping could lead to fewer vehicle trips. The company remains committed to being a good neighbor and has taken steps to reduce its environmental impact.
Overall, this study sheds light on the potential environmental and social consequences associated with Amazon’s distribution facilities and calls for a reevaluation of land use policies and sustainable practices in the industry.