Tetra Pak has released key findings from its “Global Sustainable Packaging Consumer Research” study, revealing significant environmental concerns among Saudi consumers. The study, part of the company’s “Go Nature Go Carton 3.0” campaign, aims to highlight sustainability practices in the Kingdom’s food systems.
The research indicates that 64% of Saudi consumers are worried about environmental issues, pollution, and food waste. Of these, 53% are motivated to reduce food waste to combat hunger, while 27% purchase more local products to mitigate climate impact. Furthermore, 80% are more likely to buy from brands that address environmental topics, and 68% prefer brands using eco-friendly packaging.
Tetra Pak’s Managing Director for the Arabia Area, Niels Hougaard, emphasized the urgency for businesses to adopt sustainability practices. “Businesses proactively adopting sustainability practices is no longer ‘nice to have’; it is now a ‘need to have’. The consumer sentiment in Saudi Arabia highlighted in this research is an eye-opener for businesses,” said Hougaard.
The study also revealed that 63% of Saudi consumers sort plastic packages for recycling, 58% sort carton packages, and 27% use reusable or refillable packaging. Additionally, 28% have purchased products due to environmentally friendly packaging, and 25% prefer packages made from recycled materials.
Tetra Pak’s research extends to food and beverage (F&B) manufacturers, showing a trend towards minimizing plastic use. Half of the surveyed businesses cited consumer demand as the main driver for new sustainable solutions. When asked how suppliers could help, 65% emphasized the importance of new product developments. Despite macroeconomic challenges, 77% of global businesses expressed a willingness to accept cost-related trade-offs for sustainable solutions.
The research involved over 14,500 online interviews across 29 countries, with 500 conducted in Saudi Arabia. It explored consumers’ environmental concerns, behaviors, and perceptions of various packaging types.
In the Arabia Area, Tetra Pak is investing in sustainable packaging solutions and recycling initiatives. The company has partnered with UPM, Obeikan Paper Industries (OPI), and Saudi Top Plastic Factory (STP) to establish a recycling hub with an investment of over SAR 12 million. This initiative aims to increase carton recycling and contribute to a circular economy.
The findings align with the launch of Tetra Pak’s “Approach to Nature” framework, targeting the halting and reversal of nature loss and enhancing water security. Key goals include sourcing 100% of key raw materials from certified sources by 2025, ensuring high water-impact suppliers report on water use, eliminating waste-to-landfill from production sites by 2030, and reducing water use in best practice processing lines by 50% by 2030.