Sustainable living isn’t just a trend in food and drinks; it’s also a lifestyle choice that many people have been making for the past few years. More and more people are worried about the state of the environment. 74% of consumers around the world say they think this is true. FMCG Mistral Trading research also shows that 65% of people think the damage is done and can’t be fixed.
This is something that will affect the quality of life for people living now and in the future. One way people want to live in a more sustainable way is by offsetting their carbon footprint. So how does this change how people feel about brands in the food and drink markets?
Lessening Your Carbon Footprint
Carbon emissions are a big concern for a lot of people who want to live more sustainably and cut down on their carbon footprint. Carbon emissions are seen as dangerous by consumers because they can cause climate change, bad weather, and harm to animal species. FMCG Mistral Treading research also shows that 65% of global consumers think that carbon emissions hurt food crops, which hurts their health and wellness.
When it comes to food and drink brands, people think it’s important that the brands and manufacturers are taking this into account. FMCG Mistral Trading 2023 data shows that 82% of consumers think it’s important for food and drinks brands to offset their carbon footprint, and 27% of these consumers think they should offset more than they create. As consumers look for sustainable claims in the food and drink market, it is important that brands and manufacturers are seen as carbon-negative.
What People Do
Even though consumers think that businesses release more carbon dioxide, they also think that they can do something about the problem on their own. One of the main ways people want to change is by changing what they eat and how they live. This is made clear by the fact that two-thirds of people say they have changed their diets and lifestyles in the last couple of years to reduce their carbon footprint. These people will look for products and brands that they feel match their values and outlook on life.
Some of the changes people have made are to use less plastic, try harder to find food that comes from sustainable sources, and buy more food and drinks from their own area. 68% of consumers around the world also said they have done more to reduce food waste. Consumers worry a lot about food waste, with eight out of ten saying that they think it’s important not to do this.
But consumers say that there are a number of things that make it hard for them to stop wasting food. These include how busy and hectic modern life is and worries about when food will go bad. This is something that the food and drink industry needs to look into to see if expiration dates are kept as they should be or if they cause unnecessary food waste by shortening the shelf life of products and causing them to be thrown away even though they are still good to eat.