Retailers feeling the pressure from consumers to prioritise sustainable packaging

Food Safety Works| July 10, 2023 |

Food and drink retailers face increased consumer pressure to provide sustainable packaging options, according to new research from Tetra Pak, which polled major retailers in the UK and Ireland on their attitudes and factors driving packaging choices. Almost nine in ten retailers admit that climate change concerns are affecting the packages they’re choosing to put on their shelves and Tetra Pak’s statistics indicate this pressure is largely consumer-driven.

97% of respondents believe their customers are taking action to reduce their ecological impact and this same number believe it is affecting purchasing decisions. Responsible packaging has consequently become a major issue for almost all retailers, with 97% also saying it is a chief consideration when choosing a supplier.

Making the right choice

Tetra Pak’s research sheds light on the driving factors behind retailers’ packaging priorities and decision-making. The most common concern for retailers is having a package that comes from low carbon sources, with 45% citing this as a primary consideration. This is closely followed by whether packaging comes from renewable sources (41%) and contains less plastic (38%).

The survey also highlights a lack of understanding on the part of retailers as to what constitutes low carbon packaging.

Looking forward

Although 77% of respondents agreed they could be doing more to offer products with packaging that has a low environmental impact, Tetra Pak’s results suggest progress will continue to be made. Almost half of respondents plan to stock products with sustainable packaging in the next two years, 43% in the next 12 months.

Johan Rabe, managing director of Tetra Pak North Europe, said: “We will continue to collaborate with the industry and work to find innovative packaging solutions that will help retailers offer more sustainable packaging choices to their customers. For example, by the end of 2020, Tetra Pak aims to launch the first tethered cap solution in Europe on a Tetra Rex Plant-based package as part of a broader programme to help address the issue of plastic waste.

The full results of Tetra Pak’s research can be found in their newly published report, Positive Packaging: Towards a Carbon Future.Source.