Is the Earth Paying a Huge Price for Your Food Delivery?

– Shivaan Darda

I’m not going to lie, there is comfort in getting a piping hot meal, delivered to your doorstep. Noodles, pizza and even Indian snacks! But this service may not offer the same contentment to our future generations. What I mean is that the environment pays a heavy price for your daily or weekly deliveries, leaving behind a host of complications to be dealt with.

Here are a few ways in which food delivery platforms impact our Earth.

• Increased Single-Use Packaging: The demand for disposable containers, utensils, and bags has skyrocketed. In 2020, the global food delivery market generated an estimated 65 billion plastic items, a substantial portion of which ended up in landfills or the ocean. Even with biodegradable or recyclable options, improper disposal often negates their environmental benefits.
• Carbon Footprint of Deliveries: Frequent use of vehicles for deliveries contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Food delivery vehicles emit about 1,000 metric tons of CO2 annually in major cities like New York and Los Angeles. The on-demand delivery model prioritises speed and often results in multiple trips and increased fuel consumption.

• Food Waste: Restaurant meals and fast food typically involve higher levels of food waste compared to home-cooked meals. The U.S. generates 22 million pounds of food waste daily from restaurant takeout and delivery services. The production of food, particularly meat and dairy, is resource-intensive, requiring significant amounts of water, land, and energy. For example, producing 1 kg of beef requires 15,000 litres of water.

While food delivery services cannot fully be eliminated, we can manage their impact on the environment. However, this requires a concerted effort from consumers, businesses and policymakers. By adopting and promoting more sustainable practices, the environmental footprint of these services can be minimized.