Survey: Close to two-thirds of customers in HK prefer takeaways with sustainable packaging

Nearly two-thirds of customers prefer to order takeaway from restaurants using sustainable packaging, while nearly half (44%) of restaurants have not adopted it yet, according to the latest survey of Deliveroo.

The survey, conducted amoung 1,000 respondents in Hong Kong between 6 and 12 September 2022, aims to find out the perceptions of both consumers and restaurants on sustainable packaging.

61% of the surveyed consumers said the availability of sustainable packaging will be one of their key considerations when ordering food delivery services, while Gen X consumers who aged 46 to 55 (69%) are most supportive of sustainable packaging. Moreover, 66% are willing to pay more for sustainable packaging when ordering takeaways.

Despite 70% of surveyed food and beverage establishments agreed that patrons choose eateries that implement green practices, nearly half (44%) of restaurants surveyed said they have not adopted sustainable packaging yet. The main reasons are lack of financial support for the adoption of green operations (48%), followed by low public awareness of environmental protection (22%); and limited choices of sustainable packaging suppliers (19%), according to the survey.

Furthermore, higher operating expenses are identified as the primary deterrent for restaurants utilising sustainable packaging (83%), as over 60% of restaurants that use sustainable packaging reported to have noticed a 1-5% increase in operating costs as a result of opting into greener packaging.

On the other hand, restaurants are seen to be most motivated to switch to sustainable packaging by subsidies (67%) as opposed to the unique advantages provided by meal delivery services, such as marketing campaigns (33%).

"We’re pleased to see that consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the impact that their sustainability choices have. It’s important for us, our restaurant partners and the entire F&B sector to drive change together.” said Andrew Hui, general manager of Deliveroo Hong Kong.

"That’s why we’re adopting sustainable sources and doing our best to encourage the implementation of additional eco-friendly and green practices. Deliveroo is committed to supporting the marketplace and being a part of the communities we serve by taking action to drive sustainability. We’re committed to working with our relevant stakeholders to explore ways to incentivise and accelerate new environmentally-friendly behaviours that will help to deliver lasting, sustainable change across the food delivery sector, echoing the government’s plan to hasten the upcoming ban on the use of disposable plastic tableware,” Hui added. 

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