Autonomous delivery robots on the rise: How can I cut carbon footprint for restaurant food deliveries?

This study examines customers’ intentions to select an autonomous delivery robot (ADR) for off-premise restaurant delivery services, in response to the growing concerns about carbon emissions. Drawing upon Valence-Instrumentality-Expectancy theory, this study demonstrates how knowledge of transport emissions, awareness of carbon emissions, the perceived environmental performance of ADRs, and ADR usage intentions are interrelated. This study also explores differences between two groups: ADRs as high risk versus low risk. Using PLS-SEM and PLS-multigroup analysis with data from 418 participants, the study results show that more knowledge of transport emissions and higher awareness of carbon emissions are associated with more positive perceptions of ADRs' environmental performance and greater intentions to use ADRs. This study highlights the importance of ADRs’ reliability, which should be prioritized alongside environmental concerns. This study has theoretical contributions and practical implications, including policymaking, for stakeholders in the food delivery business.