Are you one of those people who jumps in the car even just to buy a loaf of bread? By the time you’ve started the engine, driven to the supermarket, found somewhere to park and made it home again, you might have spent longer than if you’d simply walked. All that for a handful of groceries.
We’re becoming increasingly aware of the importance of adopting sustainable habits, but looking after the planet doesn’t always mean making drastic changes to our lifestyle. Sometimes, something as simple as walking to the shops instead of driving can make a difference.
With a Sustainable shopping trolley, you can carry your groceries comfortably, use fewer plastic bags and avoid unnecessary car journeys. What’s more, you can Save petrol and reduce CO₂ emissions, benefiting both the planet and your wallet.
But how much can you actually save? Let’s crunch the numbers.
Shopping trolley vs car: how much CO₂ can you save by walking to the shops?
Every time we drive a petrol car, we burn fuel and release carbon dioxide (CO₂), one of the main greenhouse gases responsible for climate change.
According to the Spanish Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE), every litre of petrol burned produces approximately 2.32 kg of CO₂.
That might not sound like much, but when you make the same journey several times a week, the figures soon add up.
A practical example: shopping without the car
Imagine your local supermarket is 2 kilometres from home and you shop there once a week. That’s a 4-kilometre round trip.
Assuming you drive a petrol car with an average fuel consumption of 6 litres per 100 kilometres, here’s what the savings would look like:
| Category | Approximate savings |
| Weekly distance avoided | 4 km |
| Annual distance avoided | 208 km |
| Petrol saved per year | 12.5 litres |
| CO₂ emissions avoided per year | 28.9 kg |
Example calculated over 52 weeks, assuming fuel consumption of 6 L/100 km and an emissions factor of 2.32 kg of CO₂ per litre of petrol. Emissions factor source: IDAE, Fuel Consumption and Emissions Guide, 2025.
And that’s considering just one shopping trip a week. If you replaced two similar car journeys each week with walking, you could avoid approximately 58 kg of CO₂ emissions per year.
Of course, these figures are only estimates. Fuel consumption depends on the vehicle, the route and traffic conditions. The calculation also covers direct emissions from burning fuel, rather than all the emissions associated with the vehicle.
The important thing is to understand that every car journey we replace with a walk helps reduce emissions and Save petrol.
Fewer plastic bags, more responsible shopping
When we talk about sustainability, it’s not all about CO₂ emissions. The waste we produce also has a significant environmental impact.
Think about it: you go to the supermarket, buy a few things and end up using several bags to carry everything home. Even if some of them are reusable, do we really need that many?
A Sustainable shopping trolley lets you carry fruit, vegetables, cleaning products and other items in one sturdy bag, reducing the need for extra shopping bags.
A small change that reduces waste
According to figures published by Spain’s Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO), the total number of plastic bags placed on the Spanish market fell by 39.08% between 2017 and 2023.
This trend shows that waste prevention measures and changes in our shopping habits can help reduce waste.
In fact, the Ministry itself recommends using shopping trolleys, reusable shopping baskets and shopping bags as alternatives to help prevent packaging waste. With a Garmol shopping trolley, you can keep your groceries organised and continue using the same trolley for years to come.
The aim isn’t to make shopping more complicated, but to produce less waste whenever possible.
Walking to the shops: good for the planet and good for you
Walking to the supermarket doesn’t just help reduce emissions. It’s also an easy way to build physical activity into your daily routine.
The World Health Organization recommends that adults get between 150 and 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity each week. Brisk walking can help you meet that recommendation.
What’s more, walking to the shops has other benefits: you get to enjoy a stroll, discover local businesses and become less dependent on your car for every journey.
Your shopping trolley, the perfect walking companion
Of course, walking to the shops is one thing. Walking home carrying several heavy bags is quite another.
That’s where a shopping trolley makes all the difference. It lets you transport groceries and other products comfortably, without having to carry all that weight in your hands.
At Garmol, we offer a wide range of models to suit different needs: 2-wheel shopping trolleys, 4-wheel models you can push, folding shopping trolleys and large-capacity shopping trolleys.
Because sustainable shopping should also be practical. It’s not about juggling heavy bags all the way home from the supermarket, but finding a comfortable alternative for everyday life.
A long-lasting shopping trolley is also a sustainable choice
Sustainability isn’t just about driving less or cutting down on plastic. It also means choosing durable products, looking after them and making the most of them for as long as possible.
A Sustainable shopping trolley should accompany you on countless shopping trips, rather than becoming yet another product you constantly need to replace.
At Garmol, we’ve been manufacturing shopping trolleys in Spain since 1968. We focus on sturdy frames, quality materials and recycled plastic components, designing products that can be used for years.
What’s more, proper maintenance helps extend your trolley’s lifespan. Cleaning the wheels, looking after the bag, checking the axles and storing your trolley somewhere dry are simple habits that help keep it in good condition.
You can find more advice in our article about strong and durable shopping trolleys.
Changing habits starts with small steps
You don’t have to give up your car completely. There are big shopping trips, longer journeys and situations where driving is necessary.
But if you have shops close to home, why not make the most of them and walk there?
You could start by replacing one car journey a week, planning your shopping more efficiently or visiting shops in your neighbourhood. Over time, these small changes can become everyday habits.
And if you’re looking for a companion for your trips to the supermarket, discover our Garmol shopping trolleys and find the model that best suits your needs.
Small changes, big benefits: start with your next shopping trip
Living more sustainably doesn’t always require a huge effort. Sometimes, it starts with something as ordinary as deciding how to get to the supermarket.
Remember these three simple ideas:
- Walk whenever you can. Replacing short car journeys with walking helps reduce CO₂ emissions and Save petrol.
- Use fewer plastic bags. A reusable shopping trolley helps reduce waste on your regular shopping trips.
- Choose long-lasting products. A sturdy shopping trolley that’s well looked after and used for years is a step towards more responsible consumption.
Your shopping trolley won’t save the planet single-handedly, but it does have a few advantages over your car: it doesn’t use petrol, doesn’t need a parking space and won’t leave you with a parking ticket on your windscreen.
More walking, fewer emissions and Happy Shopping!
Frequently asked questions about shopping trolleys and sustainability
How much CO₂ can you save by walking to the shops?
It depends on the distance and the vehicle you would otherwise use. For example, replacing a weekly 4 km journey in a petrol car that consumes 6 L/100 km can avoid approximately 29 kg of CO₂ emissions per year.
How much petrol can I save by walking to the supermarket?
If you replace a 4 km car journey once a week, assuming fuel consumption of 6 L/100 km, you can save approximately 12.5 litres of petrol per year.
Why is using a shopping trolley more sustainable?
Because it makes walking to the shops easier, allows you to reuse the same bag and reduces the need for disposable bags. Choosing a sturdy, long-lasting shopping trolley also encourages responsible consumption.
How does a shopping trolley help reduce plastic bag use?
Its reusable bag lets you carry numerous items without needing several extra bags every time you shop. This helps reduce the waste associated with your regular shopping trips.
What are the benefits of walking to the shops instead of driving?
It helps reduce harmful emissions, save fuel and incorporate physical activity into your daily routine. It also supports local shopping and avoids parking problems.
Sources consulted (Spanish official sources)
- IDAE (Spanish Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving): Guía de consumo y emisiones, noviembre de 2025 (Fuel Consumption and Emissions Guide, November 2025). Official Spanish reference for vehicle emissions calculations.
Plastic Bags Section - MITECO (Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge): Registro de Productores de Producto, bolsas de plástico (Product Producers Register, Plastic Bags). Spanish national statistics on plastic bags.
Plastic Bags Section - MITECO (Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico, Spain): Prevención de residuos de envases ligeros (Prevention of Lightweight Packaging Waste). Recommendations on shopping trolleys, shopping baskets and reusable bags.
Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition: - OMS (Organización Mundial de la Salud): Actividad física (WHO, World Health Organization: Physical Activity). Physical activity recommendations for adults.
Editorial note: The calculated savings are an estimate of the direct emissions from petrol combustion avoided. They do not represent a measurement of the complete carbon footprint of either the shopping trolley or the car.
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