GS25 on-foot delivery strives in Korea and reduces emissions

The retailer has reduced about 522 tons of CO2 since starting to offer the service two years ago thanks to the rise in online transactions.

GS25, a Korean convenience store brand owned by the GS Retail group, has reduced carbon dioxide emissions thanks to its on-foot delivery service. After rolling out the service two years ago, the retailer has reduced CO2 emissions by about 522 tons thanks to the rise in online transactions triggered by the pandemic.

On-foot delivery was launched by the company in August of 2020 by the name of “My Town Delivery”. Customers can use the brand’s app to order any product they desire to be delivered on-foot. Anyone ages 18 and up can sign up as delivery men tasked to carry small packages within a radius of 1.5 kilometres from a store with fees of up to 3,200 won, roughly $2.38.

"We will continue to push for delivery partnerships with external companies so that more on-foot delivery workers can carry out environmentally-friendly delivery tasks," said Go Rang-hoon, spokesman of GS Retail, according to an official press release published by Aju Business Daily.

As the media cites, the government recently released data showing that online purchases of food and groceries during December 2021 registered a 11.2% increase from one year ago. This rise, triggered by the pandemic, also reflected on the delivery services, with on-foot delivery men increasing up to approximately 80,000, a 50% increase from last year.

The company stated that this milestone has the same effect as planting 489,000 trees, with most deliveries made by male workers in their 50s. In addition, GS Retail has expanded this service into various restaurants and fast food brands across the country.