The　platform　economy　is　growing　fast　in　the　world.　Its　expansion,　exemplified　by　industry　giants　like　Amazon,　Airbnb,　and　Uber,　is　reshaping　societal　lifestyles　and　commercial　businesses.　However,　its　environmental　impacts　are　uncertain.　Currently,　the　relationship　between　electronic　commerce　(e-commerce)　activities　and　environmental　pollution　has　attracted　a　lot　of　attention.　This　paper　attempts　to　construct　a　comprehensive　theoretical　model　to　investigate　the　nexus　between　e-commerce　and　regional　environmental　pollution,　with　a　particular　focus　on　the　effects　of　air　pollution　and　waste　pollution.　Fixed　effect　models　and　China＇s　provincial　data　during　the　period　from　2008　to　2018　are　employed　to　examine　the　roles　of　energy　efficiency　and　resource　consumption　in　such　a　nexus.　The　findings　suggest　that　the　development　of　e-commerce　is　linked　to　a　reduction　in　regional　air　pollution　through　the　channel　of　improving　transportation　energy　efficiency.　The　results　also　show　that　e-commerce　is　associated　with　an　increase　in　regional　waste　pollution　due　to　the　mechanism　of　resource　consumption　in　the　express　packaging　industry.　As　a　result,　the　relationship　between　e-commerce　and　environmental　pollution　is　quite　complex　at　the　regional　level,　transcending　a　binary　distinction　of　solely　positive　or　negative　impacts.　This　paper　contributes　to　a　better　understanding　of　the　complex　environmental　impacts　of　e-commerce　and　helps　governments　design　more　efficient　and　targeted　policies　to　reduce　regional　pollution.　©　2023　ERP　Environment　and　John　Wiley　&　Sons　Ltd.