Although it can be argued that the increased use of shippers and shipping of items by eBay is decidedly NOT green - noone can argue that eBay has kept LOTS of stuff otherwise destined for the landfills from being thrown away.  The new green site informs us that 86 million buyers and sellers on eBay have reused over $100B worth of products since 1998.  

Green team members are providing information on buying green, selling green, living green, and shipping green.  Green shipping tips help to reduce the carbon impact of sending stuff across the planet purchased on eBay!  It helps to buy stuff close to home - and eBay also allows you to search each listing by distance.  

eBay also has a new subsite designed exclusively for sellers of green products called Worldofgood.com  If you qualify and can list here - your listing is featured both on this site and the main eBay site, but you only pay one set of fees.

eBay also allows sellers to donate part of all of their profits to green organizations, as well as many other charitable organizations of their choice. 

eBay’s Green Team site in the future will host discussions and give information about green events in your area.  I look forward to seeing its evolution!

But there’s also another problem with shipping that might not immediately be on your radar: noise pollution.

According to reports on noise in the ocean by Reuters, man-made noise (made mainly by large ships and oil rigs) are threatening whales, sea turtles, and other animals that rely on sonar and sounds to communicate. Experts say that these animals can become scared or confused at the sounds, causing them to dive erratically without considerng the water pressure changes.

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As 90% of the world’s freight travels by sea, burning over half a billion tons of fossil fuel per year, it is no surprise that environmentalists are searching for cost effective, green enhancements to this traditional industry’s methods.

Seatrade Middle East Maritime 2008, set to run from December 14-16 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center is expected to be the stage from which several exciting new innovations in green shipping are unveiled.  As another hot topic for discussion at this event will be the effect of the economic downturn on the shipping industry, industry greening that shaves costs is certain to be highlighted.

One of exhibitors presenting during this event is Greenwave, a UK based charity that is focused on finding workable solutions to the 1.2B tons of CO2 (greenhouse emissions) released into the atmosphere every year by the global shipping industry. Greenwave has four programs in place, all of which are designed to enhance fuel economy.  As fuel costs for a single ship is roughly $3M/year, Greenwave’s programs also have a positive impact on the bottom line. 

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UPS can talk all it wants about eliminating left turns on their driving routes, but if you’re adding 2-3 legs to the flight getting it there, that makes for a long, carbon intensive trip. And it doesn’t have to be that way.

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In a conversation with Justin Brown of First Global Xpress, I began to find out: All the major international shippers use a “hub and spoke” system to distribute packages. In a case of bureaucracy overriding logic, a package sent from New York to Europe may first go to New Jersey, then go several miles in the wrong direction, to Memphis Tennessee, then back overseas, taking in the sights at several major and regional sorting centers until it arrives. Why? It defies logic, in terms of efficiency, ecology, and economy.

And get this: according to Justin, 30% of jet fuel consumed is during take off. So, add up those extraneous miles, plus the fuel consumed each flight, and you’ve got an enormous carbon footprint here, an unnecessary one.

What to do? Enter First Global Xpress.

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