Zomato Rolls Out Cooling Vests For Delivery Partners Amid Extreme Summer Heat

As India’s summer heat rises to extreme levels, with temperatures often crossing 40°C in many cities, working outdoors has become increasingly difficult. In a move aimed at supporting its delivery workforce, food delivery platform Zomato has introduced a new solution designed to bring relief from the scorching weather.

The company has rolled out cooling vests for its delivery partners, aiming to make their daily work more comfortable and safer during peak summer months. According to the company, more than 2,500 delivery partners across over 14 cities in India will be testing these vests this summer.

The initiative comes at a time when delivery riders spend long hours on the road, often exposed directly to intense sunlight and heat. To address this challenge, the cooling vests have been specially designed for high-temperature conditions. They use evaporative, PVA-based cooling technology, which helps reduce body temperature when activated.

Once worn, the vests can provide cooling relief for up to four hours. They are also designed to be lightweight, breathable, and comfortable for daily use. The company has said that the material used is anti-microbial and durable, with a lifespan of up to two summers, making it suitable for regular use in tough weather conditions.

Zomato shared that the vests are built to offer instant cooling and all-day comfort, helping delivery partners manage long working hours in extreme heat. The design focuses on everyday performance, ensuring that riders can continue their work with reduced heat stress.

The project has been developed through a collaboration with Shell Foundation and Trane Technologies’ SPACES programme. Intellecap, a Mumbai-based business consulting firm, is acting as the implementation partner for this initiative. Together, the organisations aim to improve working conditions for gig workers who face challenging outdoor environments.

Focus On Worker Safety:

Zomato’s CEO Deepinder Goyal also commented on the initiative through LinkedIn. He said, “Still early, but hoping this makes the summer a little more bearable.” His message reflects the company’s view that this is an initial step towards improving worker well-being during extreme weather conditions.

Heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke are a growing concern for people working outdoors in India’s summer. Cooling vests are seen as a practical way to support the body’s natural temperature regulation and reduce the risk of heat stress.

The initiative has also drawn attention on social media, where many users have appreciated the effort to improve conditions for delivery partners. While still in the early stages, the programme marks a step towards using simple wearable technology to address real-world challenges faced by workers in extreme heat.