Relationship between the demand for food delivery and takeaway services and the associated plastic packaging waste during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

AbstractFood delivery and takeaway services (FDTS), the demand for which has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, are expected to continue to grow after the pandemic; however, this creates a social problem as this service is a source of plastic packaging waste. This study aims to evaluate the environmental impact of plastic packaging waste resulting from the changes in demand for FDTS before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey was conducted among Osaka residents to understand changes in FDTS use before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A web survey revealed that there was a 5.8% increase in the demand for FDTS during the COVID-19 pandemic. Next, the annual plastic packaging waste emissions associated with FDTS and the corresponding CO2 emissions from plastic container manufacturing were estimated. The annual load of plastic packaging waste consumed as a result of FDTS was estimated to be 6153 t (4531–6497 t) during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the annual CO2 emissions from plastic container manufacturing and waste treatment were estimated to be 47,033 t CO2 (33,860–49,661 t CO2). These results revealed that plastic packaging waste and CO2 emissions increased by 1.35-fold during the COVID-19 pandemic.