Global Food Delivery Aims to Achieve Net-Zero

Major food and grocery delivery platforms have launched a new industry-led alliance to accelerate the transition toward zero-emission deliveries. The Deliver-E Coalition aims to shift two- and three-wheel delivery vehicles worldwide to electric and other zero-emission alternatives.

Founding members include Delivery Hero, DoorDash, iFood, Mr D, Swiggy, Uber, Wolt, and Zomato, which collectively operate in 96 countries and complete around 6 billion two and three-wheel deliveries each year.

The founding charter commits members to drastically accelerate the implementation of zero-emission deliveries by switching to electric vehicles, bicycles, and other two and three-wheel zero-emission modes, unlocking economic, social, and environmental benefits for all stakeholders and society at large.

Under the initiative, member companies will share best practices, track electrification progress, and address common challenges. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will host the Coalition’s Secretariat, providing research, administrative, and communications support while facilitating the sector’s transition toward zero-emission deliveries. Coalition partners include the ClimateWorks Foundation, the Government of the Netherlands, and Prosus.

Switching to zero-emission delivery vehicles can reduce urban air and noise pollution, lower greenhouse gas emissions, cut operating costs, and generate jobs in the green economy, particularly in vehicle maintenance, charging infrastructure deployment, and fleet management software development. Recent studies cited by UNEP show that replacing internal combustion motorcycles with electric bicycles can reduce last-mile delivery costs by about 25% while cutting emissions by nearly 90%. The transport sector remains the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions after energy generation, according to UNEP’s latest Emissions Gap Report.

The Coalition’s founding act notes that members are transitioning to zero-emission deliveries to reduce emissions, improve air quality, strengthen driver livelihoods, and promote wider electrification of transport systems.