The company is taking another crucial step in their sustainability journey by joining the Climate Group's global electric mobility initiative, EV100. Zomato has pledged to fully adopt electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030, demonstrating their commitment to building a more sustainable enterprise. This move is a significant milestone in Zomato's efforts to reduce their carbon footprint and promote eco-friendly practices in the food delivery industry.

Zomato's History

It all started in 2008 when two young food enthusiasts, Deepinder Goyal and Pankaj Chaddah, had a simple dream of creating a comprehensive food directory service. And thus, Foodiebay was born - a humble startup that would eventually change the game for food delivery services around the world.

In just a matter of months, Foodiebay quickly became the largest restaurant directory in Delhi NCR, and in 2010, the company was rebranded as Zomato. And from there, the rest is history - Zomato became India's first foodtech unicorn, raising millions of dollars in funding and expanding its reach to over 24 countries.

But that's not all - Zomato is also making a name for itself as a champion of sustainability. The company has made significant efforts to incorporate eco-friendly practices into their operations and business practices. In fact, just a few weeks ago, Zomato announced that it would fund environmental projects to offset their delivery carbon footprint. And now, they're taking things even further by joining the Climate Group's global electric mobility initiative, EV100.

Zomato is not only revolutionizing the food delivery industry, but it's also leading the charge for a more sustainable future. Find out how Zomato is making a positive impact on the planet with its innovative practices and inspiring vision for a greener tomorrow.

Climate Conscious Deliveries

Zomato is on a mission to save the planet, and they're leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to build a more sustainable future. The company has been actively working towards reducing its carbon footprint and promoting sustainable practices to combat climate change. One of the ways they're doing this is by launching sustainable delivery options like bicycles and electric vehicles to reduce emissions.

In fact, Zomato already has over 4,500 active EV-based delivery partners - an impressive feat in such a short time. And they're not stopping there - Zomato aims to adopt a 100% EV-based delivery fleet by 2030 as part of its commitment to The Climate Group's EV100 initiative. That's right - every single delivery from Zomato will be eco-friendly within the next decade.

But it doesn't stop with electric vehicles - Zomato is also looking at enabling cycle-based deliveries, with 18% of orders already being delivered on bicycles in the financial year 2022. The company is proving that sustainable food delivery can be achieved, and they're leading the charge in making it a reality.

Reducing Plastic Waste

Zomato has replaced plastic cutlery and straws with eco-friendly alternatives, helping to reduce the amount of single-use plastic that ends up in landfills and our oceans. But they're not stopping there - the company has also introduced the "Don't send cutlery" option for all food orders, which is now the default option on the app. This means that unless customers explicitly opt for cutlery, it won't be included in their order, further reducing unnecessary waste.

But perhaps the most impressive move by Zomato is their recent pledge to voluntarily recycle more than 100% of all plastic used in the packaging of orders placed on their platform. This commitment demonstrates the company's dedication to sustainability and highlights their innovative approach to tackling the plastic waste crisis.

Zomato is not only changing the way we order food, but also leading the charge against plastic waste. Find out more about the company's inspiring efforts to create a more sustainable future for all.

Zero Hunger

One of the most significant of these initiatives is the Zero Hunger project, in collaboration with Hunger Heroes. Zomato leverages its vast network and connections in the food industry to provide food to underprivileged communities in India. The Daily Feeding Program is one such initiative that serves 2 lakh meals a day across 39 cities in the country. Zomato's goal is to make India hunger-free, and they're doing their bit to achieve this dream.

Sustainable Livelihoods

Apart from this, Zomato is committed to creating sustainable livelihoods and promoting economic growth. The company's focus on diversity and inclusivity in the workplace has helped provide equal opportunities to everyone across the value chain. With its platform providing access to more than 205k restaurants, Zomato has been a driving force in promoting growth and opportunities for restaurants and delivery partners alike.

Health & Well-Being

Zomato also takes the health and wellbeing of all its stakeholders seriously. The company has implemented sustainable food practices such as reducing food waste and promoting locally sourced ingredients, thereby supporting sustainable farming practices. For the delivery partners, Zomato has set up various health and wellbeing initiatives, such as mandatory road safety awareness modules at the time of onboarding, and free medical insurance and disability/death coverage.

Sustainable Business Practices

Sustainability is ingrained in Zomato's DNA, and it is evident in the company's overall business strategy. Zomato has implemented ethical sourcing policies to ensure that all its products and services are sourced in a sustainable and responsible manner. The company's 2022 report highlighted that the board of directors comprises 50% females, and 30% of leadership roles are currently being served by women. Moreover, Zomato has implemented a six-month parental leave policy for all its employees, irrespective of gender, ensuring that employees can balance their work and personal lives.

Strategy During COVID-19 Pandemic

•  Contactless Delivery: Zomato introduced contactless delivery where the delivery executives leave the food package outside the customer's door to avoid any physical contact. 

• Safety Measures: Zomato implemented strict safety measures for their delivery executives, including providing them with masks, sanitizers, and gloves.     

• Temperature Checks: The company started conducting temperature checks of their delivery executives before they start their work to ensure their health and safety.    

• Social Distancing: Zomato also ensured that their delivery executives maintain social distancing while picking up orders from restaurants or delivering them to customers.   

• Partner Support: The company introduced a "Restaurant Support Program" to help its partner restaurants, which included free listing, zero commission on online orders, and short-term funding. 

• Reduced Plastic Waste: Zomato started using eco-friendly packaging to reduce plastic waste, which is harmful to the environment.    

• Food Donation: The company partnered with several NGOs to donate excess food to the needy during the pandemic.     

• Contactless delivery

Conclusion

Zomato has made significant efforts to incorporate sustainability into its operations and business practices not only in India but also outside of it. Through initiatives such as Feeding India, Zomato is dedicated to making the world hunger-free. Zomato's platform is providing access to customers and growth opportunities for restaurants and delivery partners, promoting sustainable livelihoods. Zomato is also actively promoting sustainable food practices and ethical sourcing policies, ensuring that its products and services are sourced in a responsible manner. By joining the Climate Group’s global electric mobility initiative, EV100, Zomato is committing to 100% adoption of electric vehicles by 2030, further reducing its carbon footprint. These sustainability efforts by Zomato serve as an inspiration to other companies to prioritize sustainability and make a positive impact on the environment and society

Are we doing enough for climate change? Can we do more? What is our next step? Find out by following our weekly newsletter here

Authored by Shuchi Shukla, a final year research student at Department of Geopolitics and International Relations, MAHE. Her area of interest lies in the geopolitics of renewable energy and energy transition, health diplomacy in the Global south.