Cyber Monday 2013: The Ongoing Growth of a More Eco-friendly Way to Shop

The term for online shopping on the Monday following Thanksgiving is known as Cyber Monday. Each year a growing number of people are going online to do their holiday shopping. Since the term was coined by the National Retail Foundation's Shop.org in 2005, Cyber Monday spending has more than tripled. By avoiding a trip to the mall, shoppers cut down on their environmental impacts including emissions associated with car travel.

According to a report by GigaOm, Black Friday is 50 times more carbon intensive than Cyber Monday shopping. While the report is imperfect, it shows how driving cars to the mall en masse is not an eco-friendly way to shop.

One suggestions to reduce the footprint (and cost) of online shopping is to avoid overnight shipping (air freight). According to The Daily Green ground transportation is better than rush delivery. Ground shipping is six times more energy efficient than air. Not only do airplanes release more greenhouse gases (GHGs) than terrestrial vehicles, they release these GHGs higher in the atmosphere, which has a greater adverse impact on global warming than gases emitted at ground level. Data from the Center for Energy Climate Solutions shows that even when using overnight shipping, the carbon impact of buying online is a fraction of driving to a mall or store.

Powerful New Tool Analyzes Website Sustainability

Mightybytes is a Chicago-based company that is working to help green the digital space. They are pioneers in the often overlooked area of digital sustainability. They have launched a free innovative web-based app called EcoGrader that helps companies to assess and improve the carbon footprints of their websites.

As a certified B Corporation and a three-star certified Eco-Andersonville green business, Mightybytes has sustainability woven into their DNA. They embrace an imperative for sustainability and apply that passion to their work, their office environment, and their personal lives. They are committed to making a social impact with their work and they are equally passionate about environmental stewardship.

Mightybytes helps organizations to solve communication, design, and technical problems, build online brands, create software-based business solutions, nurture and support customer communities, reach new targeted audiences and develop digital products that meet specific marketing goals.

Sustainable Learning Online: UNESCO's Young Masters Programme

In 2011 UNESCO inaugurated a global online education programme for 16–18 year-old students to learn about sustainability issues and solutions. The Young Masters Programme (YMP) is a free global web-based education and learning network about sustainable development. The programme is open for secondary students and their teachers from all over the world.

Extensive on-line teaching material gives the students a thorough understanding of sustainability issues and preventive environmental strategies. The students can also put their knowledge into practical use by starting sustainability projects in their local community.