A Study on Impact of Sustainable Logistics Practices on Customer Choice in Grocery and Food Delivery

Abstract

This study examines the impact of sustainable logistics practices on customer choice in grocery and food delivery services. With the rapid growth of platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, and Zepto, environmental issues like carbon emissions and packaging waste have increased significantly. To address these concerns, companies are adopting sustainable practices such as electric vehicle deliveries, biodegradable packaging, and route optimization. The study uses a descriptive research design and is based on primary data collected from 102 respondents through structured questionnaires. Simple percentage analysis was applied to interpret the data. The findings reveal that most customers are aware of sustainable initiatives and show preference for eco-friendly delivery options. Although price remains an important factor, sustainability strongly influences customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. The study concludes that sustainable logistics not only supports environmental protection but also provides long-term competitive advantage for businesses.

Introduction

The study explores sustainable logistics in the grocery and food delivery sector, driven by rising environmental concerns and growing customer awareness. Platforms like Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, and Zepto are increasingly adopting green practices such as electric vehicle deliveries, biodegradable packaging, and route optimization to reduce carbon emissions, fuel consumption, and packaging waste. Survey results indicate that eco-friendly practices are the most influential factor (60.8%) affecting customer choice, with younger, educated consumers showing high awareness and preference for sustainable options.

The study suggests that companies should expand the use of electric delivery vehicles, adopt biodegradable packaging, communicate sustainability initiatives clearly, and offer incentives to encourage eco-friendly choices, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction, loyalty, and competitive advantage.

Conclusion

The study concludes that sustainable logistics practices play a significant role in influencing customer choice in grocery and food delivery services. Increasing environmental awareness has made customers more conscious about eco-friendly delivery options. Initiatives such as electric vehicle delivery, biodegradable packaging, and route optimization positively impact customer perception and satisfaction. The findings show that sustainability, along with price and convenience, affects brand preference and loyalty. Customers are willing to support companies that demonstrate environmental responsibility.

References

[1] United Nations (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. New York: United Nations. [2] World Economic Forum (2020). The Future of the Last-Mile Ecosystem. Geneva: World Economic Forum. [3] McKinsey & Company (2022). Sustainability in Supply Chains: Environmental Impact and Business Value. [4] Swiggy (2023). Sustainability and ESG Report. Bengaluru: Swiggy Limited. [5] Zomato (2023). Annual Report and Sustainability Initiatives. Gurugram: Zomato Limited.

Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Ms. S. Subaasrichellammal , Mr. L. R. Siva Raman. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.