Transforming our Fleet for a Sustainable Future

Shaping cities in which our stakeholders can thrive while contributing to building a more sustainable future is what motivates us beyond doing business. We believe that responsible companies must use their core business to respond to the social, environmental, and difficult challenges facing the world. This result-driven approach is why we speak and seek impact rather than talk about corporate social responsibility. 

Our goal is to reduce our carbon emissions by 42% by 2030 across our value chain. In order to develop a realistic and impactful action plan, we had our targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), consistent with the greenhouse gas emission reduction required to keep global warming below 1.5Cº. 

As part of a 360° approach that includes programs aimed at reducing food waste, projects that invest in sustainable packaging, renewable energy, and improved logistics, we’ve also set the ambitious target of having 64% of orders delivered by non-combustion vehicles by 2030.

The Global Impact of Fossil-Fuel vs. Electric Vehicles

Having a positive impact on local communities means understanding what matters to them. 

Our vision is to encourage the shift from fossil fuel-powered to electric vehicles and drive sustainability at Glovo’s core by facilitating the access to electric vehicles for Couriers. Our long term goal is to make low-carbon delivery the default option for partners and customers.

Our biggest output of carbon emissions comes from the transportation of goods, which is where we could have the biggest impact: delivery. Fossil-fuel motorbikes and cars generate significantly more greenhouse gas emissions than their electric counterparts. The statistics speak volumes: fossil-fuel motorbikes produce 68% more emissions than electric motorbikes, while fossil-fuel cars generate 64% more emissions than electric cars. 

An electric vehicle being used in Romania

To meet our ambitious goal of having 67% of orders delivered by non-combustion vehicles by 2030, we’ve employed a two-pronged strategy: 

1. making electric vehicles more affordable and 
2. converting our owned fleet to electric.

By partnering with suppliers and third-party logistics providers, we’ve been able to make electric vehicles more accessible and affordable for Couriers.

Electric Vehicles in Croatia

Right now, five countries where we operate are leading the charge with over 40% of their vehicle fleets being non-combustion. These include Croatia, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, and Nigeria. In Croatia, our collaboration with Meta Mate has led to more than half of our deliveries being made by non-combustion vehicles. 

The electric scooter model being used in Croatia

Croatia is a shining example in our quest for sustainability. Thanks to the availability of public funding from NextGen, and implementation of the project thanks to our 3PLs, the shift to electric vehicles was supercharged. This backing not only eased financial hurdles but also spurred the widespread roll-out of charging stations, making owning an EV in Croatia a breeze.

In just 18 months, the percentage of electric vehicles in Croatia rocketed from 5% to a whopping 35% by May 2023. This incredible change underlines our shared commitment to slashing carbon emissions and boosting operational efficiency.

The Spanish case

In June 2022, we launched an initiative backed by a €492k grant from the ‘Programa MOVES FLOTAS’ by the Spanish Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge. This project enabled us to transition the vehicle fleet of Glovo Micro Fulfillment Centers (MFCs) in Spain to electric vehicles through strategic leasing partnerships with the Electric Vehicle companies PandaGO and Cooltra. To support this shift, we also upgraded our facilities to efficiently manage the new electric scooters, including sourcing MFCs with renewable energy.

This initiative has generated a dual impact: it has reduced costs and enhanced operational efficiency while significantly minimizing our environmental footprint. Since the transition began two years ago, we have achieved a remarkable reduction in CO2 emissions, totalling 1.140 tons, and energy savings of more than 4,500MWh.

Lessons Learned and Future Plans

Our success in Croatia has laid a solid foundation for future growth and expansion. We remain committed to our trusted partners and aim to replicate our success with another 3PL provider in Poland. In other markets like Kenya, we’ve launched a project that aims to promote sustainable transport and financial inclusion in East Africa through a collaboration between Roam (an electric vehicle provider), M-Kopa (a financing platform), and Glovo. In the long term, the goal is not only to meet the demands of a growing customer base but also to foster environmental responsibility and operational excellence in these regions.

By prioritizing partnerships, affordability, and strategic planning, we hope to inspire other companies to join the effort by reducing carbon emissions and embracing electric mobility. 

We remain steadfast in our commitment to driving meaningful change because we truly believe it’s the right thing to do and we feel responsible and accountable for driving this effort within our ecosystem. There is no denial that sustainability is a matter of survival for humankind. As Glovo grows, so does our responsibility to leverage our assets for good by focusing on the positive impact we can make if things are done in the right way instead of the easy way.