Shoppers increasingly looking for sustainable options

Posted by Isobel Drake on 27th August 2009

According to latest shopper research from international food and grocery expert IGD, 55 per cent of shoppers would like to know more about the environmental impact of food and grocery products, with forty per cent are actively interested in packaging in particular.Other research from earlier this year discovered that 37% of shoppers think re-sealable packaging would help to reduce the amount of food they throw away, eight per cent higher than in 2007.

“Shoppers are concerned about the environmental impact of food packaging. Awareness of sustainability, recycling and renewable energy has gained momentum and shoppers want to see the food and grocery industry responding to their concerns,”Joanne Denney-Finch, Chief Executive of IGD, advised.

IGD, pointed to the efforts of major grocery retailers and manufacturers in the UK as leading the way in attracting the more ethical consumer. For example:

* Retailer Sainsbury’s is working to reduce its own brand packaging weight by 33%, relative to sales, by 2015 (using a 2009 baseline)
* The Co-operative’s waste minimisation initiative aims to use 15% less packaging for own brand products by the end of 2010
* Tesco has recently announced that it is diverting 100 per cent of waste produced by its entire UK business away from landfill
* Asda aims to send zero waste to landfill across all of the ASDA and George businesses, including depots and offices, by 2010
* Morrisons aims to use 15% less own-brand packaging by 2010
* Coca-Cola aims to increase the use of recycled PET to 25% in all their bottles by the end of 2010
* PepsiCo aim to achieve zero landfill waste across their total supply chain within 10 years
* Nestlé in the UK & Ireland aim to achieve zero food packaging and waste (from factories) to landfill by 2012