In the evolving landscape of UK convenience retail, sustainability is a vital part of the shopper experience. As retailers seek to standout in a crowded market, it’s the plastic initiatives customers actually notice that carry the most weight. So, how are grocery retailers handling this shift in consumer behaviour, and what are brands doing to help?
A recent study by Mintel called ‘Grocery Retailers Are Going Green’, found that along with food waste, single-use plastics have become one of the general public’s biggest focuses when it comes to making sustainable changes. The research shows that a third of British shoppers choose food and drink items with packaging that is plastic-free, recyclable, and/or compostable as part of their efforts to shop more sustainably[1].
For convenience stores – where footfall is frequent, interactions are short and the opportunity to build loyalty runs high – adopting plastic reduction initiatives has the ability to enhance customer relationships and repeat purchases. This could be switching to refill stations, reducing single-use bags, or clearly labelling packaging reductions.
A Closer Look
Recent UK research reveals that more than half (51%) of food and drink items on supermarket shelves are packaged in plastic that could be removed or replaced. And yet only some retailers are translating this into in-store changes that resonate with the shopper at the point of purchase[2].
Last year, a study of UK supermarket plastic waste called The Material Change Index, found that more than half (51%) of food and drink items on supermarket shelves are packaged in plastic that could be removed or replaced. Moreover, it discovered that the plastic packaging we see that can’t be recycled comes from ready-meals and meal kits (90%); bread, rice and cereals (89%); dairy products (83%); and meat and fish (80%)[3].
Interestingly though, food manufacturers and retailers worry that shifts in packaging would make them uncompetitive, with customers not wanting to pay additional money for sustainable packaging.
What Are Brands Doing To Help
While some brands are worried that implementing sustainable changes to packaging will mean the price of products will increase, putting customers off, others are well on their journey to creating a more sustainable future.
