There is a delivery that respects the environment, protects riders and supports the community:the example of So.De

So.De is the social delivery startup in Milan that offers a sustainable service, supporting communities and the environment.

Sustainable, social, supportive:these are the key words that characterize So.De, startup of delivery active in the Milan area and which redefines the concept of home delivery with its innovative and ethical approach.So.De, in fact, significantly reduces the environmental impact thanks touse of bicycles And cargo bikes for his deliveries.At the same time, it promotes asustainable work ethic based on respect for people, on local and proximity trade, promoting a circuit of conscious consumption, supporting small local businesses and activating solidarity chains against food waste.

The delivery sector in Italy

In recent years in Italy e-commerce has seen a exponential growth until reaching 54.2 billion euros in 2023, over 6 billion more than in 2022;it is the one who says itB2C eCommerce Observatory of the Polytechnic of Milan.The food&grocery segment remains stable after the surge of the two-year pandemic:in fact he scored a +84 percent between 2020 and 2021 and another +17 percent between 2021 and 2022.Having started out as a necessity, home delivery has become a habit for most Italians.The food delivery, that is, the delivery of ready meals from bars, pizzerias and restaurants, is worth 1.8 billion euros and reaches 71 percent of our compatriots (the data are from The European house – Ambrosetti).

This rapid expansion brought with it new challenges linked not only to the increase in traffic and pollution in cities, but also to the need to regulate an emerging profession - that of rider – and to update processes and technologies to effectively respond to growing demand.So.De fits into this context, offering an innovative and sustainable response.

So.De:how it works

Launched in 2021 by the social enterprise Magma srl and fueled by the vision of Rob de Matt (restaurant, bistro, but above all social promotion association) and from civic crowdfunding call from the municipality of Milan, So.De offers a quality service in a rather competitive sector such as delivery, reducing its environmental impact and improving the working conditions of its collaborators.For this reason, it is part of the sustainable startup ecosystem LifeGate Way.

The peculiarity is that, for its deliveries, the startup makes use of vehicles with low environmental impact such as cargo bikes and e-cargo bikes.Second  one study of 2021 from the Active travel academy research center at the University of Westminster, these vehicles emit the 90 percent less carbon dioxide compared to diesel vans and 33 percent less than electric ones.In addition to protecting air quality in urban areas, this also contributes to a reduction in traffic and of thenoise pollution, making the more livable cities.

Using So.De is simple.Customers book a delivery through the reserved area on online platform.Here they configure the shipment details, choose between different delivery options and track the route in real time.The platform offers different classes of priority, ranging from urgent services to scheduled deliveries, allowing you to choose the option that best suits your needs.So.De is aimed at different targets:from private individuals to small businesses up to large companies, even with very high flows of deliveries.

With over 10 thousand deliveries made and almost 25 thousand kilometers travelled, So.De has avoided the release into the atmosphere of 3 thousand kilograms of carbon dioxide.

So.De and its holistic approach to sustainability

But So.De's commitment is not limited to environmental sustainability alone.The startup, in fact, also engages in social initiatives, starting from stable contracts and from continuous training of workers, to get to the point of activating projects to support local communities.

So.De's social approach materializes in programs of work inclusion for people with histories of marginalization or fragility, such as young NEETs (who do not study, work or attend professional training programmes), refugees and the unemployed.Your training courses they enhance individual skills and encourage inclusion in the social and professional fabric of the city.

There are also several projects launched in synergy with other entities.For example, So.De collaborates with initiatives of recovery and redistribution of food, collecting unsold products from large retailers and delivering food parcels to families in fragile conditions.This activity supports communities in need and also helps fight against it food waste.

Among other solidarity projects it stands out Bicycle shop 15, a multifunctional community hub that combines cultural and educational activities related to cycling and art.The startup also collaborates with the program for the promotion of child welfare of the municipality of Milan, Wish Me, with photography and cycling workshops for young people.Other initiatives include solidarity projects such as distributing peace books to children.

Currently operational in the area of Milan, but with the ambition to expand to other Italian cities, So.De stands out for its ethical and sustainable vision.Demonstrating that combining commercial success with respect for the planet and people is possible, even in the delivery sector.