Behind the scenes
Galaxus customers making fewer climate contributions
by Tobias Heller
Galaxus customers investing less in climate protection
24.4.2026
Translation: Katherine Martin
Climate-friendly online shopping is on a downward trajectory – at least if you consider the number of voluntary climate contributions being made. So far in 2026, Galaxus customers based in Switzerland have chosen to donate money to climate-related causes on just over nine per cent of orders. In 2022, it was 12 per cent. Meanwhile, Germany’s climate contribution rate has halved from eight per cent to just under four per cent.
A third of Switzerland’s population see environmental and climate protection as a key challenge facing society. According to a study released last December by the investment bank UBS, this is the public’s second-biggest worry. However, it’s apparent that our worries aren’t always followed up with action – at least as far as online shopping’s concerned.
The percentage of Galaxus orders with a voluntary climate contribution has been declining for years. According to the latest figures, nine per cent of customers in Switzerland choose to make the contribution when making a purchase. In 2022, customers were still hitting the «Climate contribution» button on 12 per cent of orders.
Galaxus customers in Switzerland are still significantly more likely to fork out for climate contributions than their counterparts in Germany. This is potentially down to the fact that climate change currently only ranks eighth among German society’s biggest worries (website in German). Immigration, poverty, and social inequality are the top-listed issues.
In the first quarter of 2026, customers in Germany made voluntary climate contributions on just under four per cent of all orders – a new low. In 2022, the figure was eight per cent – twice as high as it is now.
The urban-rural divide
It comes as little surprise that customers in Basel-Stadt, Zurich and Bern are most likely to make climate contributions on their order. Politically, these major city cantons always been seen as green, left-wing strongholds. Bringing up the rear are the predominantly rural cantons of Appenzell Innerrhoden, Valais and Fribourg.
In Germany, customers based in the city-states of Hamburg, Berlin and Bremen are more inclined to pay extra for their orders for the sake of the environment. By contrast, the climate contribution option’s less popular in Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Saxony.
If we’re being completely honest, the most sustainable course of action would simply be to consume less. However, if Galaxus’s sales figures are anything to go by, things have been going in the other direction for years.
Do you make a voluntary climate contribution when placing orders on Galaxus? If so, do you always do so? Or only for certain products? We’re looking forward to reading your comments.
Tobias Heller
Communications Manager
Tobias.Heller@digitecgalaxus.chSustainability
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