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Consumer Attitude of Environmental Challenges in Online Food Delivery Services: a Study in Chennai
Summary
A study of 133 food delivery app users in Chennai, India found that most people know their online orders (from apps like Swiggy and Zomato) create real environmental problems—plastic waste, food waste, and pollution—and they're actually willing to pay a bit extra for eco-friendly packaging. This matters because that plastic packaging waste doesn't just vanish; it breaks down into microplastics that can contaminate soil, water, and eventually our food, so consumer demand for greener packaging could push delivery companies to reduce a source of plastic pollution that may end up back in our bodies.
Online delivery services have become an important part of the digital economy due to factors like smartphone penetration, urbanisation and changing consumer lifestyle. The major food delivery platforms like Swiggy and Zomato provide convenience and a wide variety of food choices from the consumers’ favourite restaurants by enhancing their experience and reshaping the food service landscape. The rapid growth of online food delivery services has intensified environmental challenges like plastic waste, high carbon emissions and food waste. Yet consumer awareness of these issues remains underexplored. This study addresses a critical gap by examining how informed consumers are about these impacts by assessing their attitude and willingness, which is essential for promoting sustainable practices in an industry projected to expand significantly. Primary data was collected from 133 respondents and analysed using percentage and weighted mean. In conclusion, the results showed that Swiggy is the most preferred OFD app. The respondents are aware of the environmental challenges and have a positive attitude towards reducing pollution. They are also willing to pay extra for the eco-friendly packaging. This gives OFD platforms and restaurants a solid base on which to invest in environmentally friendly packaging options without appreciably reducing consumer demand.