Consumers are closely watching how the businesses they patronize adapt and change in order to meet their concerns about how food and other products are packaged.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the world produces 300 million tons of plastic a year and 8 million tons ends up in the oceans. IUCN also reports that of all the debris that pollutes the ocean, 80% of it is plastics. The organization, along with many other partner organizations calls for the elimination of single-use plastics, like food containers, and encourages businesses to replace these with new containers that are compostable and sustainable.

Brands are finding out that consumers are specifically searching for businesses that help provide solutions to this problem. If your establishment is adding to the single-use plastic waste problem, you might end up blindsided when you find out your consumers are willing to go elsewhere and spend their money at establishments with earth-friendly food containers and packaging.

A recent study by McKinsey & Company offered some insight into U.S. consumer behaviors when it comes to choosing what brands and packaging options they support. Between 60-70% of survey respondents said they would pay more for products in sustainable packaging; consumers were interested in both sustainable fiber-based packaging and recyclable or recycled plastics; and about 36% said they would buy more sustainable packaged goods if they were labelled as such, more accessible and available on a wider variety of products.

So, what’s a brand to do?

  • Run, don’t walk to find the best alternatives to your plastic containers. Do some research and find out what consumers are looking for when it comes to sustainable packaging. Go to environmental websites and find out what options are the best for your particular products, what packaging holds up best and what products are the most sustainable.
  • Listen to your customers. They’ve probably been asking for different packaging for years, but weren’t being heard. Make a big splash out of introducing your new, eco-friendly packaging options through social media and advertising to build on your existing consumer loyalty and to entice new consumers to your brand.
  • Beat out your competition. Are your competitors in on the sustainable packaging trend? If not, this is your opportunity to show your commitment to the future of the planet by using sustainable, compostable or biodegradable packaging before it’s common practice or mandated. Let your customers know your brand cares, and is putting a plan into action.

Genera can help your brand attract more interest with sustainable packaging options made from our line of single-use molded fiber products called Earthable®. Made from renewable fibers, it’s used in a wide array of applications including tissue, paper, compostable food service tableware, and packaging. Genera is recruiting farmers to grow sustainable crops right now to provide feedstock for our fiber products. To find out more, contact Genera online today.