How might the spread of online meal-delivery services impact achievement of the SDGs?

Abstract

The development of the online meal-delivery industry is a double-edged sword, with potential to both hamper and drive progress towards achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet most studies examining this industry have been conducted from the narrow perspective of specific academic fields, focusing on single issues or on individual cases. In this paper, by drawing upon the thematic foci of the SDGs as an analytical framework, we conducted a systematic and objective review to assess consequences of the online meal-delivery's development for sustainable development. After selecting and reviewing 128 peer-reviewed articles identified on Web of Science, we systematically coded their contents, and examined key trends along with knowledge gaps. The review shows that direct consequences for the SDGs --for instance, human health, plastic waste, carbon emissions, and labor conditions-- have been thoroughly discussed. Conversely, we found a lack of attention to other indirect but important consequences, including impacts on poverty, hunger, education, and gender equality, which are yet to be thoroughly investigated. Particularly, our findings point to a need for more knowledge on how the industry is impacting food access in light of the “digital divide” between IT-literate consumers and those possessing less familiarity with digital technologies, how employment opportunities contribute to poverty alleviation or exacerbation of class gaps, and how the meal-delivery industry can contribute to achieving zero hunger by increasing food access to vulnerable populations. Our findings generate important insights to guide the formulation of more targeted countermeasures to address issues that risk hindering achievement of sustainable development.