Be Bright

foodpanda vows to end hunger, improve lives in its newest initiative

Leading online food and grocery retailer foodpanda has recently shown its dedication to battling hunger and advancing sustainability through its leading advocacy initiative, Let’s Do Our Pau-rt! (LDOP). Introduced late last year, this initiative’s priority programs include ending hunger, along with other objectives such as preserving the environment and promoting community development.

In its 2021–2022 Corporate Social Advocacy Report, the company discussed its outreach efforts and major projects over the previous two years, including those that took place at the height of the COVID lockdowns.

“Focusing on these main pillars, we are looking at a clearer path towards creating meaningful change to communities,” said foodpanda Philippines Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Daniel Marogy, adding that they want their efforts to make a broader and more holistic impact not just to the country, but also to the world.

In 2015, United Nations (UN) member states, including the Philippines, committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 everyone would live in peace and prosperity. Marogy pointed out that the three pillars of LDOP will touch on key areas of the SDGs.

“We are at the forefront of a growing movement that will positively impact our surroundings and the communities we serve. The launch is also perfectly timed with the celebration of our 9th anniversary as we showcase what else we can offer to make a difference to the lives of our partners and the society,” Marogy said.

Taking action against hunger

The latest Sustainable Development Report data shows that the country faces major challenges in SGD 2 (Zero Hunger), which also supports what the local Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey found that around 2.7 million Filipino families experienced hunger in Q1 2023.

To help address this challenge, foodpanda has developed several initiatives under the LDOP umbrella such as the ShareTheMeal program, which is a meal donation feature built in the foodpanda app that will allow users to easily donate meals after checking out their orders.

Launched in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the ShareTheMeal program will benefit local farmers from disaster-prone areas in the country. Since the Philippines faces a trend of frequent climate emergencies, thousands of farmers and fisherfolk’s livelihoods are affected yearly, leaving them with wiped-out harvests and farm income loss.

“Farmers are one of the most affected by natural calamities as it destroys their crop and livestock production – which is their source of income and oftentimes, what they also eat. By joining and partnering with WFP in this advocacy, we can help provide meals to thousands of Filipino farmers,” Marogy explained.

The ShareTheMeal program is an extension of a global partnership launched by parent company Delivery Hero SE with the WFP. As of December 2022, the food meal initiative has now donated over 10 million meals globally. “As we want to be the complete food ecosystem in the market, it’s only fitting that we also do our part to help address hunger with the abundance of food resources that we have so that we can also join the fight against global hunger,” Marogy said.

Aside from the app feature, foodpanda is also partnering with Scholars of Sustenance, a global food rescue foundation, to donate food items from its pandamart grocery delivery service to communities in need. Marogy shared that they are also planning to enlist the help of its partner restaurants to also encourage them to donate their excess food items.

Being pau-rt of a better PH

Throughout 2021-2022, foodpanda implemented key programs supporting its social responsibility and sustainability goals.

LDOP encourages its community of employees, vendors, delivery partners, consumers, and other stakeholders to take part in taking care of the environment.

The foodpanda PH Chief added that a huge part of their LDOP program is focused on promoting biking as a safe and sustainable mode of transport. “Our delivery fleet consists of 22% of Ka-pandas using bicycles, which allowed us to achieve 25% of orders delivered using bicycles.”

Image Source: foodpanda

This advocacy also led them to form a formal collaboration with the National Bicycle Organization (NBO) and support biking-related activities and initiatives.

Marogy declared that they intend to ramp up efforts to tackle the protection of the environment as this is still an existing problem in the country. The recent SDG report revealed that the country continues to face significant challenges in SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities). “As this is ingrained in our company core values, we want to continue and strengthen our efforts to contribute to a more sustainable future through and for our people, partners, and communities,” he said.

Meanwhile, foodpanda also did its share of providing livelihood opportunities and building resilient communities.

“With our pandaBIZ program, many displaced workers, especially during the pandemic, had the opportunity to find alternative sources of livelihood as part of our Ka-panda fleet. On the other hand, our BuyAnihan Palengke initiative connected beneficiaries – consisting of former Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), out-of-school youths and single parents – with sources of resaleable agricultural produce.”

Image Source: foodpanda

pandaSHARES also mobilized donations and emergency assistance to the marginalized sectors or communities affected by natural disasters as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility program. “The Bayanihan spirit is deeply rooted in the Filipino culture; that’s why we supported relief efforts directed at disaster-stricken communities and programs that help uplift the less fortunate,” Marogy said.

Image Source: foodpanda

Marogy concluded that all their past and upcoming programs are both a continuance and a fresh new start for its corporate social advocacy. “Starting yet another chapter, we want to bring and carry on with the good that we did while also looking ahead with brand-new initiatives that will benefit a greater number of beneficiaries and an even bigger impact on society.”

Read also

Chris Layugan