New Study Finds 64% Of Saudi Consumers Worried About Environment And Waste
Tetra Pak, the global packaging solutions company, has released insights from its "Global Sustainable Packaging Consumer Research" study, which can potentially drive sustainability practices in Saudi Arabia. The research aims to understand consumer actions towards environmental conservation on a country level, identify market trends, industry opportunities, and challenges related to sustainability, and provide businesses with valuable insights to align with consumer demands.
These insights are part of Tetra Pak's "Go Nature Go Carton" campaign, which showcases the company's sustainable practices and aims to inspire more businesses in the food and beverages industry to adopt sustainable measures. The study reveals that 64% of Saudi consumers surveyed are concerned about environmental issues, pollution, and food waste.
Of this group, 53% reduce food waste to help fight hunger, as it makes more food available to undernourished communities. Furthermore, 27% of consumers purchase more local products to mitigate climate impact. The research also indicates that 80% of the group would be more inclined to purchase a product if the brand discusses environmental topics, while 68% are more likely to consider a brand if it uses environmentally friendly packaging.
The study also looks at the attitudes of food and beverage (F&B) manufacturers towards sustainability. The research reveals that F&B companies are increasingly minimizing plastic use, with half of the surveyed businesses citing consumer demand as the main driver for implementing sustainable solutions. When asked how packaging and processing suppliers can contribute, 65% of businesses highlighted the importance of new product developments. Additionally, 77% of global businesses expressed a willingness to accept cost-related trade-offs associated with sustainable manufacturing and processing solutions, despite ongoing macroeconomic challenges in the industry.
Niels Hougaard, Managing Director of Tetra Pak Arabia Area, emphasized the importance of businesses adopting sustainability practices, stating that it is now a necessity rather than a luxury. He highlighted the consumer sentiment in Saudi Arabia regarding sustainability and the increasing urgency to decarbonize the world's food systems. Hougaard urged businesses to prioritize sustainability in their products and communication strategies to enhance market appeal and consumer loyalty. He also emphasized the opportunity for businesses to attract and retain customers by investing in sustainable packaging solutions, benefiting both the F&B industry and the planet.
The research study, conducted by Lexis Research on behalf of Tetra Pak, involved over 14,500 online interviews across 29 countries, including 500 interviews in Saudi Arabia. The study explored the environmental concerns, attitudes, and behaviors of Saudi consumers, as well as their perception of different packaging types and innovative packaging solutions.
In Saudi Arabia, Tetra Pak is focused on developing more sustainable packaging solutions and increasing recycling to create a circular economy. The company has partnered with UPM, a UAE-based recycler, to establish a recycling hub and aims to recycle all components of its packages. Tetra Pak is also part of a sustainability initiative with Obeikan Paper Industries (OPI) and Saudi Top Plastic Factory (STP) in Saudi Arabia, with a joint investment of over SAR 12 million. The goal of this partnership is to increase the collection and recycling of cartons, contributing to the creation of a circular economy.
The findings of the "Sustainable Packaging Consumer Research" study align with Tetra Pak's "Approach to Nature," a framework to halt and reverse nature loss and enhance water security. The company aims to source 100% of key raw materials from certified or controlled sources by 2025, ensure high water-impact suppliers report on water use and quality by 2025, eliminate waste-to-landfill from production sites by 2030, and reduce water use in processing lines by 50% by 2030 compared to 2019. These targets reflect Tetra Pak's commitment to managing its value chain's impact and supporting ecosystem restoration and water resilience.
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