In response to growing customer demand for sustainable packaging, the region’s leading food delivery company has launched two initiatives aimed at helping businesses and individuals alike to do their part in safeguarding the planet
Talabat, the region’s leading online food delivery and q-commerce platform, is proud to announce the launch of its Sustainable Packaging Program to reduce plastic waste and carbon emissions across the region, starting with pilot operations in UAE and Qatar.
The new packaging is 100% plant-based and contains no perfluoroalkoxy alkanes (PFA), which cannot be broken down by nature.
The packaging has also been rigorously tested to meet food safety, quality assurance, sustainability, and ethical supply standards.
Research by the parent company Delivery Hero underlined that consumers want a more sustainable delivery ecosystem. For example, 92% of customers in the UAE and 88% of customers in Qatar would consider ordering from restaurants that offer sustainable packaging.
Talabat CEO Tomaso Rodriguez says: “I think everyone can agree that a plastic-free world is imperative.
“Statistics from National Geographic and the Ellen McArthur Foundation show 91% of the world’s plastic is not recycled and 70% of plastic ends up in landfills or the natural environment. By 2050, the amount of plastic in the ocean will outweigh fish. That is the enormity of the challenge that we as a planet are facing.
“Regionally, our goal is to create a more sustainable delivery ecosystem by constantly introducing industry-leading standards and innovations, and that every product purchased through our Talabat platform be delivered in sustainable packaging.
“Also, as part of Delivery Hero, who are introducing this same initiative initially in eight markets around the globe – Austria, Chile, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Singapore, Qatar, and the UAE – we are able to produce this packaging at scale, with the aim of deploying 10million units globally by the end of 2022, which makes it a cost-effective solution to normal packaging.’
Talabat has previously taken steps to reduce the use of plastic by introducing a “no-cutlery” default option at check-out for all orders made through the app, resulting in a 62.6% increase in no-cutlery orders in just four months in the UAE.
Talabat’s efforts come as research shows how consumers, – millennials and generation Z in particular – are increasingly conscious of their carbon footprint and the impact their everyday decisions have on the environment. Accordingly, they seek companies that actively fight climate change.
Talabat recognises the importance of eco-conscious consumerism and the vital role organisations play in changing consumer behavior.
Millennials in the MENA region are embracing a greener lifestyle, with 59% having purchased at least one product or service to support a socially responsible enterprise.
In the UAE, Talabat Mart, the first under-30-minute delivery grocery concept in the region which operates 24 hours a day, has changed its existing packaging from paper bags to biodegradable plastic bags.
In addition to consuming four times less energy than paper bags, biodegradable plastic bags offer many benefits. They decompose much faster than regular plastic in an open environment, hence reducing plastic waste and taking up less space in landfills. They are also six times lighter than paper bags – yet stronger – which means they take less space and can easily be reused.
The switch to biodegradable bags further aligns Talabat’s business practices with the UAE vision 2021 to ensure sustainable development.
This trajectory is in line with the objectives of The United Nations Sustainable Development Group, which sets the roadmap towards ensuring a more habitable world for future generations.
Talabat Mart has also established an agreement with most of its suppliers to return near-expiry items to reduce food waste, and is exploring deals with local charities to donate these items to people in need.
With consumer attention to the environment at an all-time high, it is very likely that the focus on eco-friendly packaging will continue to rise over the coming years.
Through implementing sustainable practices, organizations and governments are in turn encouraging more eco-conscious consumer behaviour and doing their part in efforts aimed at safeguarding the planet.