Close Menu
  • English
  • Featured
    • AI & Robotics
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Leisure
    • Science
    • Security
    • Sustainable Development
    • Tech
    • Transport
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

News, investigations, and analysis — our top stories every morning to start your day right.

Trending
Illustration of the lithium manganese-rich battery innovation by GM and LG Energy Solution, promising enhanced EV range and efficiency. Image generated by AI.
GM and LG Unveil EV Battery With 33% More Energy, Unlocking Longer Range and Next-Level Performance for the Electric Future
Illustration of the innovative perovskite solar cell achieving 25.3% efficiency. Image generated by AI.
“Solar Breakthrough Bends the Rules”: New Tough Flexible Cell Hits 25% Efficiency, Redefining Clean Energy Tech on Every Surface
Illustration of the enhanced energy capacity of electric vehicle batteries using interlocked electrodes. Image generated by AI.
This Interlocked Electrode Innovation Just Doubled EV Battery Power by 60%, Ushering In a New Era of High-Range Electric Vehicles
Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn RSS
Rude Baguette
Facebook X (Twitter) RSS
Newsletter
  • Featured
  • AI
    Illustration of a high-speed robotic system solving a Rubik's Cube in record time. Image generated by AI.

    US Students Build Record-Smashing Robot That Solves Rubik’s Cube Faster Than the Human Eye Can Follow

    May 18, 2025 at 4:11 PM
    Illustration of Elon Musk's Grok AI referencing controversial claims about South Africa. Image generated by AI.

    “Elon’s AI Spreads ‘White Genocide’ Claims”: Grok Under Fire as Musk’s Platform Amplifies Explosive South Africa Rhetoric

    May 18, 2025 at 11:08 AM
    Illustration of a neuromorphic device mimicking human brain functions for real-time vision processing. Image generated by AI.

    “Robots Can Finally See”: Brain-Inspired Chip Gives Humanoids and Electric Vehicles Instant Vision With Human-Level Perception

    May 18, 2025 at 7:14 AM
    Illustration of Thunder Paws, a robotic dog developed by students at St. John's University, showcasing lifelike tricks and AI capabilities. Image generated by AI.

    “Unbelievable AI Marvel”: This Incredible Robot Dog Captivates Thousands with Mind-Blowing Tricks in Stunning 5-Foot Jumps

    May 18, 2025 at 6:02 AM
    Illustration of Daniel Lalara expressing his thoughts through music. Image generated by AI.

    “AI Gave Me Back My Voice”: Breakthrough Technology Lets Man Speak Again After Losing Speech to a Cruel, Incurable Disease

    May 17, 2025 at 12:01 PM
  • Energy
    Illustration of the lithium manganese-rich battery innovation by GM and LG Energy Solution, promising enhanced EV range and efficiency. Image generated by AI.

    GM and LG Unveil EV Battery With 33% More Energy, Unlocking Longer Range and Next-Level Performance for the Electric Future

    May 19, 2025 at 3:54 PM
    Illustration of the innovative perovskite solar cell achieving 25.3% efficiency. Image generated by AI.

    “Solar Breakthrough Bends the Rules”: New Tough Flexible Cell Hits 25% Efficiency, Redefining Clean Energy Tech on Every Surface

    May 19, 2025 at 11:47 AM
    Illustration of the enhanced energy capacity of electric vehicle batteries using interlocked electrodes. Image generated by AI.

    This Interlocked Electrode Innovation Just Doubled EV Battery Power by 60%, Ushering In a New Era of High-Range Electric Vehicles

    May 19, 2025 at 10:03 AM
    Illustration of vast natural hydrogen reserves beneath the Earth's crust. Image generated by AI.

    “Unlimited Hydrogen Unlocked”: Scientists Discover Way to Harness Earth’s Hidden Fuel Reserves for a Staggering 170,000 Years

    May 19, 2025 at 9:08 AM
    Illustration of the collaboration between Zeon Corporation and Sino Applied Technology to enhance lithium-ion battery technology. Image generated by AI.

    “Stronger Than Steel, Smaller Than Dust”: Carbon Nanotube Paste Unleashes Supercharged Battery Power for Next-Gen EVs

    May 18, 2025 at 9:03 AM
  • Finance
    Illustration of Visa's integration of AI systems into digital payments (AI-generated, non-realistic illustration). Credit: Ideogram.

    Visa’s AI Is Now Shopping for You: This Robot May Soon Swipe Your Card Automatically—and Mess With Your Mind

    May 4, 2025 at 8:07 AM
    Microsoft Strikes Unprecedented Deal: World's Largest CO2 Removal at 7.44 Million Tons, Setting New Environmental Milestone

    “Microsoft Strikes Historic Climate Deal”: World’s Largest CO2 Removal Pact Targets 6.75 Million Tons in Unmatched Green Push

    April 19, 2025 at 9:55 AM
    RLWRLD Stuns Tech World With $15.6 Million Fundraise to Revolutionize Robotics: Unleashing Unprecedented Innovations That Will Shock the Industry

    “Robots Just Got Smarter”: RLWRLD Raises $14.8 Million to Build Groundbreaking Foundational AI Model for the Future of Robotics

    April 17, 2025 at 6:47 AM
    Marshmallow's Meteoric Rise: British Migrant Insurance Startup Secures $90 Million, Surges Past $2 Billion Valuation in Unprecedented Move

    “Built for Outsiders, Backed by Billions”: UK’s Marshmallow Raises $90 Million as Migrant-Focused Insurtech Soars Past $2 Billion Valuation

    April 17, 2025 at 6:02 AM
    Why the tech industry needs a labor/union movement

    Why the tech industry needs a labor/union movement

    October 2, 2022 at 3:39 PM
  • Leisure
    Illustration of Mark Zuckerberg's luxury superyachts journey to Norway's fjords for a heliskiing adventure (AI-generated, unrealistic). Credit: Ideogram.

    “Even the U.S. Is Shocked”: Zuckerberg’s 5,300-Mile Yacht Voyage and Helicopter Ski Drop Redefine Billionaire Excess

    May 13, 2025 at 9:49 AM
    Illustration of the delayed release announcement for Grand Theft Auto VI by Rockstar Games (AI-generated, unrealistic). Credit: Ideogram.

    Total Shock for Gamers Worldwide: GTA VI Now Postponed to 2026 After Rockstar Vows to Redefine the Entire Franchise

    May 7, 2025 at 5:49 AM
    Illustration of the delayed release of GTA VI and its implications for the gaming industry (AI-generated, unrealistic). Credit: Ideogram.

    “Red Dead Proves the Wait Is Worth It”: Rockstar’s Masterpiece Shows Why GTA 6 Delay Could Deliver Gaming’s Next Big Legend

    May 6, 2025 at 4:47 PM
    Illustration of HBO's adaptation of The Last of Us exploring character depth and emotional storytelling (AI-generated, unrealistic). Credit: Ideogram.

    The Last of Us Reinvented: Season 2 Takes Bold Step Beyond the Game’s Limits in Stunning, Unforgettable Storytelling Move

    May 6, 2025 at 12:14 PM
    Illustration of the highly anticipated PlayStation 6 console with advanced features and technologies (AI-generated, unrealistic). Credit: Ideogram.

    “PlayStation 6 Is Coming Fast”: Sony’s Next Console May Launch Much Sooner Than Anyone Predicted, Shocking the Gaming World

    May 6, 2025 at 10:03 AM
  • Science
    Illustration of a bacterium degrading medical-grade plastic in a hospital setting. Image generated by AI.

    “Superbug Turns Predator”: Mutated Bacteria Now Devours Hospital Implants, Sutures, and Dressings With Terrifying Efficiency

    May 17, 2025 at 9:59 AM
    Illustration of China's advanced LICOMK++ ocean simulator acting as an “ocean microscope.” Image generated by AI.

    “China’s Ocean Simulator Stuns World”: New Tech Recreates Sea Currents With Unmatched Half-Mile Resolution for Climate and Naval Mastery

    May 17, 2025 at 8:50 AM
    Illustration of various spherical and twisted shapes depicting the Kervaire invariant mystery. Image generated by AI.

    This Century’s Most Elusive Math Problem: Chinese Mathematicians Shatter the Kervaire Barrier After Decades of Intellectual Deadlock

    May 17, 2025 at 8:02 AM
    Illustration of dark matter particles. Image generated by AI.

    “Dark Matter in the Crosshairs”: MADMAX Prototype Unleashed to Capture Universe’s Most Elusive Particles With Extreme Precision

    May 16, 2025 at 4:46 PM
    Illustration of the Kosmos 482 spacecraft reentering Earth's atmosphere and crashing into the Indian Ocean. Image generated by AI.

    “Space Debris Alert”: Soviet Kosmos 482 Crashes to Earth After 53-Year Orbit, Sparking Fears Over This 1,200-Pound Satellite’s Mysterious Return

    May 16, 2025 at 4:14 PM
  • Security
    Illustration of US Marines using advanced night vision goggles in low-light conditions. Image generated by AI.

    “See Without a Sound”: New 2-Pound Goggles Let US Marines Hunt in Total Darkness With Stealth Precision Never Seen Before

    May 19, 2025 at 6:12 AM
    Illustration of the XM30 infantry fighting vehicle developed through virtual simulations. Image generated by AI.

    “Designed to Dominate Before Deployment”: US Army Builds Deadly XM30 Combat Vehicle Entirely in Virtual Space Before War

    May 18, 2025 at 8:04 AM
    Illustration of the BlueWhale System, an advanced autonomous underwater vehicle designed for naval warfare, equipped with sophisticated sensors (AI-generated, unrealistic). Credit: Ideogram.

    “Unstoppable Sea Phantom”: This 40-Foot Drone Submarine Dominates Ocean Warfare, Packed with Massive Combat-Ready Payloads for Ultimate Naval Supremacy

    May 11, 2025 at 5:04 PM
    Illustration of the FP-1 long-range drone being unveiled during Ukraine's Infantry Day celebrations (AI-generated, unrealistic). Credit: Ideogram.

    Ukraine Unleashes Game-Changing 1,000-Mile Drone: This Aerial Beast Hauls 265-Pound Explosive Payload, Shattering Boundaries of Modern Warfare

    May 11, 2025 at 11:47 AM
    Illustration of Recce360 Deep Inspection Camera operating in a high-security, nuclear environment (AI-generated, unrealistic). Credit: Ideogram.

    “Indestructible Spy Bot Deployed”: US Unveils First-Ever Nuke-Proof Robot to Guard Missile Silos With Unstoppable Surveillance

    May 11, 2025 at 8:07 AM
  • Impact
    Illustration of Altilium's innovative recycled EV battery manufacturing process. Image generated by AI.

    Recycling Record Shattered: EcoCathode Achieves 95% EV Battery Metal Recovery, Redefining Global Standards for Green Tech Efficiency

    May 19, 2025 at 7:02 AM
    Illustration of Bill Gates announcing his $200 billion donation plan and the future closure of the Gates Foundation. Image generated by AI.

    “$200 Billion Goodbye”: Bill Gates to Shut Down Gates Foundation by 2045 After Record-Setting Final Donation Pledge

    May 15, 2025 at 4:03 PM
    Illustration of Iceland's successful implementation of a four-day workweek and its impact on productivity and well-being (AI-generated, unrealistic). Credit: Ideogram.

    “Gen Z Was Right All Along”: Iceland’s 4-Day Workweek Proves a Massive Success Five Years After Bold National Shift

    May 12, 2025 at 7:54 AM
    Illustration of the majestic Jeddah Tower under construction, symbolizing architectural innovation and cultural preservation (AI-generated, unrealistic). Credit: Ideogram.

    “Saudi Arabia Unleashes Construction Fury”: This Mind-Blowing 3,280-Foot Jeddah Tower Set to Shatter Global Records and Redefine Skyscraper History

    May 6, 2025 at 3:59 PM
    Illustration of the ambitious Neom project and The Line skyscrapers amidst the Saudi Arabian desert (AI-generated, unrealistic). Credit: Ideogram.

    “Unprecedented Crisis Looms”: This Massive $500 Billion Construction Site Faces Catastrophic Delays as 10,000 Workers Sound the Alarm

    May 6, 2025 at 7:08 AM
  • Tech
    Illustration of Tesla's Cortex 2.0 supercomputer cluster at Giga Texas enhancing AI capabilities. Image generated by AI.

    Tesla’s Cortex 2.0 Supercomputer to Power Optimus and Full Self-Driving EVs in Radical Leap Toward Total AI Integration

    May 19, 2025 at 7:56 AM
    Illustration of France's Jean Zay supercomputer and its impact on scientific research and artificial intelligence. Image generated by AI.

    1 Second vs. 182 Days: France’s New Supercomputer Delivers Mind-Blowing Speeds That Leave All of Humanity in the Dust

    May 18, 2025 at 5:04 PM
    Illustration of Elon Musk's Colossus supercomputer aiming for one million GPUs. Image generated by AI.

    “Musk Builds Digital Giant”: Colossal Supercomputer With 1 Million GPUs Set to Redefine AI Power and Dominate Global Compute Race

    May 17, 2025 at 4:51 PM
    Illustration of a hair-thin EEG electrode made from 3D-printed hydrogel for advanced brain monitoring. Image generated by AI.

    “Brain Signals, Clearer Than Ever”: New Hair-Thin Electrode Delivers Ultra-Stable, High-Precision Monitoring for Advanced Neural Research

    May 17, 2025 at 6:01 AM
    Illustration of an advanced headphone system translating multiple speakers simultaneously. Image generated by AI.

    “Real-Time Babel Unlocked”: U.S. Researchers Build Headphones That Translate Multiple People Simultaneously With Shocking Accuracy

    May 16, 2025 at 12:06 PM
  • Transport
    Illustration of Waymo robotaxis involved in a software recall due to collision incidents. Image generated by AI.

    Waymo Recalls 1,200 Autonomous Taxis After Crash Spree Involving Poles, Gates, and Serious AI Navigation Failures

    May 18, 2025 at 10:03 AM
    Illustration of the Talon-A hypersonic test vehicle achieving GPS-independent navigation. Image generated by AI.

    “US Jet Flies Without GPS”: Hypersonic Aircraft Gets AI Brain Upgrade to Navigate at Blistering Speeds With Zero Satellite Support

    May 17, 2025 at 4:03 PM
    Illustration of Rocket Lab's Neutron rocket demonstrating space-based cargo delivery. Image generated by AI.

    “Space Rockets for War Cargo”: Pentagon Plans Orbital Delivery System to Drop Supplies Anywhere on Earth Within Minutes

    May 15, 2025 at 5:09 PM
    Illustration of the Boom Supersonic XB-1 aircraft achieving supersonic flight without a sonic boom (AI-generated, unrealistic). Credit: Ideogram.

    This Plane Just Did the Impossible: Achieved Supersonic Speed Without Creating a Sonic Boom in Historic Aviation Breakthrough

    May 14, 2025 at 4:57 PM
    Illustration of the Streetwing flying car showcasing its innovative design and dual-functionality (AI-generated, unrealistic). Credit: Ideogram.

    This Flying Car Isn’t for Commuting: The Streetwing Is Designed Solely to Explore the Sky Like Nothing Ever Seen Before

    May 14, 2025 at 6:11 AM
  • English
Rude Baguette

Richard Alden, entrepreneur: “We need to reform the last mile of parcel delivery”

Eirwen WilliamsEirwen WilliamsDecember 3, 2019 at 11:55 AM0
Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Telegram WhatsApp Email Copy Link
Follow Us
Google News
Share
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn WhatsApp Email Copy Link

This year’s Black Friday is expected to have garnered record sales in France—but it’s also sparked considerable controversy. Parisian mayor Anne Hidalgo indicated last week that she is moving towards taxing major firms like Amazon for the environmental impact of their deliveries, while on Black Friday itself, environmental demonstrators around the country protested against the annual shopping bonanza.

Black Friday may have become synonymous with chaotic instore scenes, though it merely heralds a month-long frenzy of activity over the pre-Christmas shopping season. Increasingly, that commerce is taking place online. As entrepreneur Richard Alden told Rude Baguette, “E-commerce is only going one way: more people buying online and more online transactions per person”.

Internet shoppers are drawn to the convenience of the practice, especially when retailers offer discounted or free shipping. But a whole host of other problems have now popped up as a result of this habit. The increased traffic precipitated by more deliveries causes congestion and exacerbates pollution, as the public infrastructure is creaking under the weight of the daily avalanche of parcels. If the trend towards online consumerism continues as predicted, retailers and delivery companies must step up their game to solve the mounting problems.

The unseen cost of next day delivery

With the launch of Amazon Prime in 2006, the almost cult-like attraction of expedited delivery was born. Today, the service counts over 100 million members on its books, one-third of whom have been found to remove items from their purchase carts when they found that they did not qualify for the two-day delivery guarantee. Backed into a corner, other retailers have followed suit, making fast and free delivery almost a prerequisite for any online shopper.

New York City is a perfect example of how our craving for swift delivery has reshaped our cities all over the world. America’s largest metropolis handles 1.5 million packages daily, and 15% of NYC homes receive at least one every day. This has seen the number of shipments arriving into the city triple to 1.1 million since 2009, making the entryway into the city from New Jersey now the most congested interchange in the entire United States.

The situation is even worse downtown. Average speeds in traffic are barely above a mild jogging pace at 7mph, while delivery drivers constantly block streets by parking illegally to deposit their goods. Last year, the four major couriers serving New York (FedEx, Fresh Direct, Peapod and UPS) racked up over 500,000 parking violations totalling more than $27 million in fines. But with boroughs like Manhattan offering generous discounts to delivery drivers (a $35 fine instead of the usual hefty $115), companies rather take the financial than the reputational hit.

This congestion, contributing substantially to urban pollution, is a symptom of what Richard Alden identified to Rude Baguette as one of the most problematic aspects of today’s parcel delivery system. “Today the carriers can get parcels across the world in a day, but the last mile is still the most congested and unsophisticated part of the process,” Alden explained. “First time delivery is difficult to guarantee, and this results in frustrated consumers and repeated visits for the carriers, increasing congestion”.

Innovation in distribution

For Richard Alden, enabling carriers to guarantee first time delivery is key to making sure packages travel their last mile more sustainably. One of the companies on whose board Alden sits (and in which he has invested), Madrid-based Citibox, installs small mailboxes in apartment buildings where customers can drop off and return packages via their smartphones. The advantage of this type of model, according to Alden, is that carriers “know that delivery is guaranteed and there is no need to spend valuable time searching for an alternative delivery option when the customer is absent”.

Not having to make repeat trips naturally cuts down delivery vans’ emissions. Furthermore, as Alden noted, carriers can choose to “concentrate all Citibox deliveries at night when the streets are less congested and when parking restrictions do not apply”—simultaneously reducing ecological impact, the traffic jams and parking fines.

Couriers are also inventing more efficient and sustainable methods of managing distribution. 8% of UPS’ 120,000-strong fleet use alternative fuels, while the company are also trialling e-cargo bikes in Seattle, after pilot projects in Portland and Hamburg. The latter city has also benefited from rival company DPD pledging to only use zero-carbon vehicles in its service, while a similar initiative has been in place in Oslo for half a year, resulting in a 25% increase in employee productivity and a 40% decline in carbon emissions.

An e-cargo bike delivery system has been implemented in Paris since 2001, while the Netherlands have also enjoyed success with the idea. However, one Dutch expert claims that e-bikes only really pay dividends when the “last-mile” journey is under 5km in distance, making it unsuitable for over 90% of deliveries in Germany. One solution to this would be to move storage hubs closer to urban populations, as is happening in Oslo, Montreal and New York, but this could have detrimental consequences on air quality for nearby residents.

Delivering reform

Whether it arrives in the form of forward-thinking firms, cleaner forms of transportation or a shift in consumer habits, it’s clear that reform is an urgent necessity for the world of online retail. With 70% of the global population projected to live in urban epicentres by next year, and with online sales expected to surpass $6 trillion by 2024, the quality of life for over two-thirds of all humans may depend upon it.

Next day delivery might be attractive due to its convenience and practicality – but it dispenses with consideration about the day after tomorrow altogether. Instant gratification is all well and good for the consumers of today, but without drastic reform of the current setup, it can surely only be interpreted as an outrageous affront to those of the future.

Did you like it? 4.7/5 (21)

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

News, investigations, and analysis — our top stories every morning to start your day right.

sustainability
Follow on Google News Follow on X (Twitter)
Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram WhatsApp Email Copy Link
Previous ArticleFintech startup PixPay offers debit cards for teens, with tools for parents
Next Article Boris Johnson signals he could favor excluding Huawei from the UK’s 5G networks
Related Posts
Illustration of Tesla's Cortex 2.0 supercomputer cluster at Giga Texas enhancing AI capabilities. Image generated by AI.

Tesla’s Cortex 2.0 Supercomputer to Power Optimus and Full Self-Driving EVs in Radical Leap Toward Total AI Integration

Illustration of France's Jean Zay supercomputer and its impact on scientific research and artificial intelligence. Image generated by AI.

1 Second vs. 182 Days: France’s New Supercomputer Delivers Mind-Blowing Speeds That Leave All of Humanity in the Dust

Illustration of Elon Musk's Colossus supercomputer aiming for one million GPUs. Image generated by AI.

“Musk Builds Digital Giant”: Colossal Supercomputer With 1 Million GPUs Set to Redefine AI Power and Dominate Global Compute Race

Add A Comment
Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

News, investigations, and analysis — our top stories every morning to start your day right.

Trending
Illustration of the lithium manganese-rich battery innovation by GM and LG Energy Solution, promising enhanced EV range and efficiency. Image generated by AI.
GM and LG Unveil EV Battery With 33% More Energy, Unlocking Longer Range and Next-Level Performance for the Electric Future
Illustration of the innovative perovskite solar cell achieving 25.3% efficiency. Image generated by AI.
“Solar Breakthrough Bends the Rules”: New Tough Flexible Cell Hits 25% Efficiency, Redefining Clean Energy Tech on Every Surface
Illustration of the enhanced energy capacity of electric vehicle batteries using interlocked electrodes. Image generated by AI.
This Interlocked Electrode Innovation Just Doubled EV Battery Power by 60%, Ushering In a New Era of High-Range Electric Vehicles
News by category
  • English
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leisure
  • Transport
  • Science
  • Security
  • AI & Robotics
  • Energy
  • Sustainable Development
Information
  • Meet the Team
  • Legal notice
  • Privacy policy
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

News, investigations, and analysis — our top stories every morning to start your day right.

Facebook X (Twitter) RSS
© RudeBaguette.com. All rights reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.