Sustainability is high on the agenda for foodpanda Malaysia and this is evident with the recent announcement of their efforts in finding the most sustainable ways to shop, eat and live. Through all that they do, the leading delivery platform in the Asia Pacific is committed to working to better serve both the community and the environment towards a low-carbon future.
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Commenting on this notable initiative, Sayantan Das, Managing Director, foodpanda Malaysia, said that sustainability has always been a priority for us and the centre of our operations. “As an industry leader in the q-commerce space, we are hoping to bring changes to the industry and gradually move towards a more sustainable operational model. Through the introduction of more sustainable initiatives across the organisation, we hope to have more vendors, delivery partners and customers join us on our mission to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. In brief, we believe in empowering local communities to live better lives, powered by technology.”
To tackle the environmental sustainability challenges in the food delivery industry, foodpanda is moving towards eco-friendly mobility by encouraging consumers to opt for Pick-Up orders with special offers and promotions. With the goal of lowering the carbon footprint of deliveries, foodpanda also encourages the use of greener transport options such as electric scooters and bicycles or for delivery partners to be walkers, completing orders within a one-kilometre radius on foot. In addition, the delivery service is also exploring other transportation alternatives such as the usage of drones to reiterate their commitment to environmental conservation.
Food wastage is a massive market inefficiency and a perpetual problem in Malaysia. To curb this issue, foodpanda will be introducing several initiatives, including the pandamart food bank to provide food to local underserved communities. There are also limited-time-only deals and discounts on Pick-Up and pandamart items to improve food sustainability.
“The rise of food takeaways during the pandemic led to a staggering amount of disposable plastic being generated and this is why we feel it is important for the food and beverage industry to do their part in addressing these problems by implementing sustainable practices throughout their business,” added Sayantan.
To improve food sustainability and minimise single-use plastics, foodpanda practices the use of paper bags instead of plastic bags. The delivery service also ensures that only biodegradable plastic bags are used on pandamart. Furthermore, foodpanda works closely with brands such as Harvest Gourmet, encouraging consumers to consume more plant-based items because of their low-carbon production practices. Moving forward, there are also plans for foodpanda to also introduce sustainable packaging for cloud kitchens as well.
Sayantan said, “These efforts are just the tip of the iceberg of what’s to come. As a progressive organisation that is driven by data and technology, we are always exploring new eco-safe ways to provide customers with the food and groceries they need with lower environmental impact. The direction that we are headed in is not new but it definitely marks a new milestone for us in championing sustainability. This is in line with our parent company Delivery Hero’s goal to become carbon neutral globally.”
On a global scale, foodpanda has led the way for sustainability in the sector by achieving many industry firsts – foodpanda is the first delivery platform in Asia to launch the use of reusable containers in Singapore, and the first platform in Asia to launch the in-app cutlery-opt out toggle, saving over 160 million pieces of single-use plastic between 2017 to 2020.
From 28 April to 31 May 2022, customers can join the cause by opting for the Pick-up option from selected vendors and enjoy 15 per cent off. In addition, foodpanda will also be organising a Snap and Win contest for users to stand a chance at winning a pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, made up of 100 per cent recycled materials, and RM10 Pick-up vouchers. All you need to do is take a photo, share it on social media, tag the vendor and use #ecopanda.
To find out more about foodpanda Malaysia’s Snap and Win contest, please visit https://www.foodpanda.my/contents/ecopandasnapnshare2022.
