IGD calls on food industry to prioritise sustainable packaging to hit net zero goals

IGD has called on the industry to act collectively in delivering sustainable packaging systems.

The organisation has launched a tool in a bid to help the food and consumer goods industry hit its goal of halving the environmental impact of all packaging by 2030.

The report, How To Help Consumers Adopt Reusable Packaging, aims to improve retailers’ and suppliers’ long-term sustainable packaging strategies.

“Delivering sustainable packaging systems is a critical industry issue,” said IGD CEO Susan Barratt. 

“Collective action is needed now, across our industry, to help consumers adopt refill and return packaging. We want industry to join us in driving tangible, positive change on this critical issue.”

IGD said reducing the need for single-use packaging through reusables was a “vital part” of the trajectory to halve the environmental impact of all packaging and accelerate net zero progress.

Its report came after consumer research showed that 63% of UK shoppers consider reusable or recycled packaging to be “very important” to them when choosing grocery products.

The same research, conducted by ShopperVista, showed that 41% of UK shoppers had already adopted reusable grocery packaging, while a further 42% are ‘thinking about’ using reusable packaging.

Additionally, 78% of shoppers believed more big brands should offer the ability to refill their packaging.

Read more: From waste stream to mainstream: the rise of refillable products

IGD said that providing more sustainable packaging options and encouraging consumers to opt for those was crucial to driving lasting change to shopping habits.

Supermarkets have been working at offering these options in a bid to hit their own net zero goals.

For example, Tesco has recently launched a refillable line of cleaning products that could save up to 60 million pieces of plastic a year. Meanwhile, the Co-op has recently joined forces with Unilever to test two reusable packaging concepts.

IGD’s latest report is part of a larger drive to deliver its sustainable packaging ambitions, which will continue next year with the launch of a roadmap.

At the same time, Wrap has gone one step further and targeted what it deemed unnecessary packaging by telling supermarkets they should ditch plastic packaging from fruit & veg aisles.