Source: UN Environment Programme

A group of the world’s major food and grocery delivery platforms have together launched the Deliver-E Coalition, which aims to accelerate the shift to zero-emission deliveries on two- and three-wheeler vehicles, on a global basis.

The coalition’s founding members – Delivery Hero, DoorDash, iFood, Mr D, Swiggy, Uber, Wolt, and Zomato – between them operate across 96 countries, undertaking an estimated 6 billion deliveries on two- and three-wheeler vehicles each year.

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) will host the Coalition Secretariat, providing assistance for research, administrative and communications functions. Associated partners of the Deliver-E Coalition are philanthropic platform ClimateWorks Foundation, the Government of the Netherlands, and e-commerce tech services provider Prosus.

The Coalition’s founding Charter states intentions to “dramatically speed up the implementation of zero-emission deliveries by shifting to electric vehicles, bicycles and other means of zero-emission two- and three-wheeler deliveries, thereby unlocking economic, social, and environmental benefits for all stakeholders and the wider society.”

Why the industry has decided to act

The way that consumers around the world behave has shifted in recent years, with e-commerce sales in 43 countries in 2021 seeing a 15% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels. These amplified doorstep deliveries translate into greater operational pressures, both on cities, and on the businesses delivering the goods ordered online. A  United Nations assessment indicates that, without any changes to the management of last-mile logistics, urban delivery emissions would increase by over 30% in the top 100 cities globally.

This pressure would in turn lead to an increase in traffic congestion (approximately 14%), raise healthcare costs (approximately 12%), and add around five minutes to daily commutes. Other research from the World Economic Forum (WEF) indicates that deliveries could account for 50% of the transport sector’s emissions in cities by 2030.

Consumer pressure is also pushing for the switch to zero-emissions delivery. The WEF research includes independent assessments which show that over 70% of shoppers prefer sustainable delivery options.

The benefits of switching to zero-emission two- and three-wheelers

A range of benefits can be achieved through a transition to zero-emission options, compared to internal-combustion two-wheelers.

• Last-mile delivery costs reduced by around one quarter
• Emissions cut by almost 90%
• Reduced urban air and noise pollution
• Jobs creation in fields including vehicle servicing, charging infrastructure deployment, and fleet management

Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, Director of UNEP’s Industry and Economy Division, made a statement about the coalition’s creation. “Deliver-E is industry leadership in action. Zero-emission two and three-wheeler vehicles are ready to scale: they are cleaner, quieter, and increasingly cost-effective. Through Deliver-E, companies will share what works and move faster together than any one company could alone.”

The coalition’s collaborative approach

The Deliver-E Charter outlines the creation of “a platform for knowledge exchange” in which members can “share learnings and expertise for an industry-wide electrification effort.” The Charter goes on to pledge the establishment of “a network of experts and essential stakeholders in the ecosystem, such as policy makers, technology companies, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), fleet aggregators and financiers,” while “supporting solutions to commonly identified barriers that prevent the vision from becoming commonplace.”