European Food Delivery Apps: A Sustainability Guide

The Hidden Costs of Food Delivery

Food delivery has become a fixture of European urban life. The convenience of ordering a meal from your phone and having it arrive at your door within 30 minutes is hard to argue against. But beneath the polished apps and promotional discounts lies an industry built on razor-thin margins, precarious labor conditions, and market dynamics that often hurt the restaurants they claim to serve.

The dominant global players — Uber Eats and DoorDash — have faced sustained criticism on multiple fronts. Commission rates of 25 to 35 percent eat into restaurant margins that were already thin. Delivery riders are often classified as independent contractors, denying them employment protections like minimum wage guarantees, sick pay, and accident insurance. And the algorithmic ranking systems that determine which restaurants appear first can be opaque and self-serving, steering customers toward restaurants that pay higher promotional fees rather than those offering the best food.

European food delivery platforms are not perfect, but many are actively working to address these structural problems. EU labor laws, stronger consumer protections, and growing regulatory pressure are pushing European platforms toward fairer models for everyone involved — restaurants, riders, and customers.

European Food Delivery Platforms

Just Eat Takeaway

Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands Operating in: Netherlands, UK, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, and more Model: Marketplace and own delivery fleet

Just Eat Takeaway is one of Europe’s largest food delivery platforms, formed from the merger of Dutch company Takeaway.com and UK-based Just Eat. The company operates a hybrid model: some restaurants handle their own delivery, while others use Just Eat Takeaway’s delivery fleet.

The platform has made meaningful commitments to rider welfare. In the Netherlands and several other markets, delivery riders are employed with contracts rather than treated as independent contractors. This means they receive minimum wage protections, holiday pay, pension contributions, and accident insurance — benefits that gig economy platforms in the US typically do not provide.

What sets it apart:

• Employed rider model in key European markets
• Lower average commission rates than US competitors
• Strong local restaurant partnerships rather than chain-dominated listings
• Investment in electric vehicle delivery fleets
• Commitment to reducing single-use packaging

Explore our detailed comparison of Just Eat Takeaway vs DoorDash for a head-to-head analysis.

Bolt Food

Headquarters: Tallinn, Estonia Operating in: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Portugal, Romania, Czech Republic, and more Model: Marketplace with own delivery fleet

Bolt started as a ride-hailing company and expanded into food delivery, bringing a European perspective to an industry dominated by American platforms. Bolt Food operates across Central and Eastern Europe, the Nordics, and parts of Southern Europe, often entering markets underserved by the global giants.

Bolt has positioned itself on competitive pricing — both for customers and restaurants. The company typically charges lower commission rates than Uber Eats, which translates to better margins for partner restaurants and, in many cases, lower delivery fees for customers.

What sets it apart:

• Lower commission rates for restaurants compared to US platforms
• Competitive delivery fees for customers
• Growing electric and bicycle delivery fleet
• Integrated within the broader Bolt mobility ecosystem (rides, scooters, car sharing)
• Focus on Central and Eastern European markets often neglected by global players

Read our comparison of Bolt Food vs Uber Eats to see how it performs.

Glovo

Headquarters: Barcelona, Spain Operating in: Spain, Italy, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, and more Model: Multi-category delivery (food, groceries, pharmacy, packages)

Glovo goes beyond restaurant delivery. The platform offers a multi-category model where users can order food, groceries, pharmacy items, and even send packages across the city. This broader scope makes Glovo a genuine urban logistics platform rather than just a food delivery app.

In Spain and other Southern European markets, Glovo has become deeply integrated into daily life. The company has invested in “dark stores” — micro-fulfillment centers stocked with groceries and essentials for ultra-fast delivery — and has partnered with local supermarket chains to provide online grocery delivery.

What sets it apart:

• Multi-category delivery beyond just restaurants
• Dark stores for ultra-fast grocery delivery
• Strong presence in Southern and Eastern Europe
• Partnership model with local grocery chains and pharmacies
• Active investment in rider safety and training programs

See our analysis of Glovo vs Uber Eats for a detailed comparison.

Sustainability Comparison

Factor	Just Eat Takeaway	Bolt Food	Glovo
Employed riders	Yes (key markets)	Varies by market	Varies by market
Electric delivery fleet	Growing	Growing	Growing
Packaging reduction	Active programs	Emerging	Active programs
Restaurant commission	Moderate	Lower	Moderate
Local restaurant focus	Strong	Strong	Strong
Carbon offset program	Yes	Partial	Yes

The Rider Rights Question

The treatment of delivery riders is the single most important ethical issue in the food delivery industry. The EU has been at the forefront of addressing this through the Platform Work Directive, adopted in 2024, which establishes clearer rules for determining when platform workers should be classified as employees rather than independent contractors.

Key provisions of the directive include:

• Presumption of employment: If a platform controls certain aspects of how work is performed (setting prices, restricting the ability to refuse work, supervising performance through algorithms), the worker is presumed to be an employee.
• Algorithmic transparency: Platforms must inform workers about how automated systems make decisions that affect them, including work allocation, ratings, and account termination.
• Right to human review: Workers can challenge automated decisions and request human review.

European food delivery platforms are adapting to this regulatory reality. Just Eat Takeaway’s employed rider model in the Netherlands and other markets demonstrates that it is possible to run a profitable delivery business while treating riders as employees with full labor rights. As the Platform Work Directive is transposed into national law across EU member states through 2026 and 2027, the gap between European and American platforms on worker treatment is likely to widen further.

How to Order More Sustainably

Regardless of which platform you use, there are steps you can take to make food delivery more sustainable:

• Order directly when possible: Many local restaurants offer their own delivery or pickup. Ordering direct means 100% of the revenue goes to the restaurant.
• Consolidate orders: Placing one larger order is more efficient than multiple small deliveries. Some platforms offer scheduled delivery to help with this.
• Choose bicycle or walking couriers: When available, select eco-friendly delivery options. Several platforms now show the delivery method.
• Reduce packaging waste: Opt out of cutlery and napkins when ordering. Some platforms let you add notes requesting minimal packaging.
• Tip fairly: If riders are not employed with guaranteed wages, a fair tip makes a meaningful difference to their income. Even where riders are employed, tips are appreciated.
• Support local restaurants: Use the platform’s filters to discover independent local restaurants rather than defaulting to international chains.

The Bottom Line

European food delivery platforms are not without their challenges, but they operate in a regulatory environment that pushes them toward fairer treatment of riders, more transparent business practices, and greater accountability to local communities. Just Eat Takeaway, Bolt Food, and Glovo each bring something different to the table — from employed rider models to multi-category delivery to competitive pricing. By choosing European platforms and ordering thoughtfully, you can enjoy the convenience of food delivery while supporting a more sustainable and equitable industry. The food delivery future in Europe is being shaped by regulation, competition, and consumer choice — and all three favor a fairer model than the one American platforms have built.