Your holiday shopping can make a difference
Online shopping is reaching record levels as millions of small packages flood the country. The surge harms domestic businesses, undermines product safety and human rights, and drives high climate emissions. Where authorities fall short, consumers can still act.
November 24, 2025 | SOCIETY
Image by AI/S&P
Norwegian imports are hitting new records this year; over 2 million duty-free parcels arrived in October alone. This strongly affects domestic businesses, but there are also other consequences you may not consider. There is increased risk of:
Products made in facilities that fail to uphold labor and human rights
Goods containing dangerous or illegal components
Low-quality items with short lifespans that create large amounts of waste
Significant environmental emissions from transport
The last point is a far greater challenge than authorities indicate. Very little has been done—nationally or internationally—to reduce transport emissions, likely because strong market forces are involved.
From 1980 to 2020, global shipping traffic nearly tripled and now accounts for about 80% of freight. To put it in perspective: a single ship can pollute as much as millions of fossil-fuel cars. Many parcels also arrive by air, which pollutes even more than shipping.
Where authorities fall short, you can still make a difference. Use your consumer power and make conscious choices this holiday season.
SOURCES
Faktisk.no
Emissions from container ships equal millions of carsInTek Logistics
Air Freight vs Ocean Freight Carbon Footprint & Environmental ImpactUnited Nations
Seaborne tradeUnited Nations
80% of trade by sea
Content on Society and Politics is based on reliable sources and actual events, providing a news-oriented perspective intented for further debate. To access the article’s author and the related debate, membership on Hudd is required.
