As online orders grow, the environmental cost of delivering thousands of parcels every day adds up. Traditional delivery methods, door-to-door drop-offs, repeated resend attempts, idle time in traffic, mean extra fuel burned, more traffic congestion, and higher carbon emissions across the “last mile.” In contrast, smart lockers like those offered by Parcelat offer a greener alternative. They don’t just make delivery easier; they help reduce environmental impact. Below is a look at how and why, with real data, plus what businesses should know.
The Environmental Problem of Last-Mile Delivery
- Studies show that the last mile of delivery often accounts for nearly one-third of the total CO₂ emissions in the entire e-commerce supply chain.
- Failed delivery attempts and repeated home drop-offs amplify emissions, because drivers end up backtracking, using more fuel, and spending time stuck in traffic. Every second counts in carbon footprint.
- In Saudi Arabia, parcel volumes are surging: the Transport General Authority (TGA) reported over 50 million parcels delivered in Q2 2025 alone, a record high. With such volumes, small efficiencies matter a lot.
Smart Lockers Reduce Emissions: What the Data Says
The environmental benefits of smart parcel lockers are becoming increasingly clear. Even if Parcelat has not yet published its own carbon footprint study, numerous independent reports and global benchmarks show how shifting to locker-based delivery systems can dramatically reduce emissions tied to the last mile. By consolidating drop-offs into centralized locations, smart lockers help couriers complete more deliveries in fewer trips. That means less time spent on the road, lower fuel consumption, and fewer vehicles stuck in city traffic, all major contributors to CO₂ emissions. The World Economic Forum estimates that without intervention, urban last-mile delivery emissions could rise by 30% by 2030, but solutions like parcel lockers can reverse that trend by cutting unnecessary stops and failed delivery attempts. Industry analyses consistently show this potential. Across markets, research points to double-digit reductions in last-mile emissions when lockers are integrated into logistics networks. For example, academic modeling published in ScienceDirect found that high-density locker networks can lower carbon output per parcel by up to a third compared to traditional home drop-offs, especially in cities where multiple failed deliveries are common. In Saudi Arabia, where e-commerce is booming and eco-friendly delivery is becoming a national focus, this shift carries real weight. Locker networks from different providers, including local operators like RedBox, Boxi, and Parcelat, are showing how smart infrastructure can make the entire delivery ecosystem more efficient. While their exact numbers differ, all point to the same conclusion: lockers reduce repeated trips and help couriers deliver more parcels with less fuel and fewer emissions. But where Parcelat stands out is in how it builds its network with purpose. Each locker is placed strategically, near offices, residential zones, and partner locations such as Panda supermarkets, so customers can collect their packages without going out of their way. This placement design reduces secondary travel (the extra driving customers might otherwise do to reach a far pickup point, making the whole process even more sustainable). Add to that Parcelat’s partnerships with DHL Express Saudi Arabia and Aramex, which allow lockers to serve as shared drop-off points for multiple couriers, and the result is a system that minimizes duplication, fuel use, and emissions across the industry. Instead of three separate drivers attempting three different home deliveries, one route to a locker can complete all three, saving time, fuel, and the environment. In short, while each provider contributes to greener logistics in its own way, Parcelat’s integrated, data-driven approach helps ensure that sustainability isn’t just a side benefit, it’s built into every parcel delivered.How Parcelat Is Contributing to Eco-Friendly Delivery Saudi Arabia
Even without all data publicly published yet, Parcelat’s actions align strongly with best practices that lead to environmental benefits. Here are what Parcelat does, based on verified sources, that help push down emissions and make delivery greener.- Strategic Partnerships that Expand Locker Coverage In August 2025, Parcelat signed an MoU with Panda Retail Company to integrate smart parcel lockers within Panda stores. More locker locations in already frequented retail locations mean parcels can be delivered and collected near where people already go, reducing additional trips. That lowers mileage per delivery, hence lower emissions.
- Collaboration with DHL Express Saudi Arabia On July 17, 2025, Parcelat and DHL Express Saudi Arabia announced a strategic partnership aiming to integrate Parcelat’s 24/7 smart lockers with DHL’s delivery network. This collaboration explicitly cites environmental sustainability as one of its goals: by reducing repeated delivery attempts, optimizing courier routes, alleviating traffic congestion, and cutting carbon emissions.
- 24/7 Access & Reduced Failed Delivery Attempts Lockers that are open 24/7 give customers flexibility to pick up parcels at any time. This means fewer failed delivery attempts, fewer redeliveries, and less fuel burned. Parcelat’s locker units operate around the clock, which supports this advantage.
What Businesses Should Know: Choosing Parcel Lockers with Eco in Mind
If your company is considering using parcel lockers for delivery, and you want that solution to be genuinely eco-friendly (not just marketing), here are the checks that matter:- Locker density & location: The nearer lockers are to customers (retail stores, supermarkets, transit hubs), the smaller the extra travel required.
- Courier integration: If you use DHL, Aramex or others, ensure they use the locker network and route parcels to lockers rather than attempting multiple home deliveries. Parcelat’s partnership with DHL helps here.
- Pickup window & access hours: Lockers accessible 24/7 or with long access windows prevent customers from letting parcels sit idle or asking for redelivery.
- Energy efficiency of lockers: Heat resistance, insulation, power sources (solar or efficient battery backups) matter in a climate like Saudi Arabia’s to reduce energy wasted on cooling or lighting. Providers like Boxi are already implementing heat-resistant lockers for this reason.
- Returns & reverse logistics: Lockers that permit returns help reduce extra trips and packaging waste.
- Transparency in claimed savings: Ask for published emissions reductions, studies, or partner data. If a provider mentions “eco-friendly delivery Saudi Arabia,” check how they back it up.
Potential Quantitative Impact (Estimates)
Using mixed data from industry studies and locker providers, here are realistic impacts you might expect when using Parcelat or a similar high-quality smart locker network:- Emission reduction: Up to 70-80% lower last-mile CO₂ emissions per parcel delivered, when using lockers vs traditional door-to-door delivery with failed attempts.
- Fewer vehicle kilometres: Reduced miles traveled by couriers because delivery trucks need fewer stops, fewer reruns for failed drops.
- Lowered traffic congestion & idling time: Courier vehicles spending less time in traffic and less time stopping and starting, which in hot climates also reduces fuel use significantly.
