In a global survey of 6,000 consumers from 12 countries, more than three-quarters claimed that environmentally sound packaging has an influence on the beverage brand they buy.
The survey, carried out this year for Tetra Pak, revealed a growing appetite among consumers for products that tick the right environmental boxes.
When asked about recent purchasing habits, two-thirds said they have bought environmental products, even when they cost more, while around the same proportion have avoided specific brands or items due to environmental concerns.
The survey finds that environmental factors were a considerably stronger influence on beverage brand choice in developing markets such as China, Turkey, Brazil and India than in developed areas like the US, UK or Japan.
In India, China and Turkey, more than 60% of those surveyed said they always look for environmental information on the beverage products they buy, compared with less than 25% in the US, UK and Japan.
In response, a parallel survey among food manufacturers showed that the majority of them have included environment as part of their business strategy.
More than half are now sharply focused on using responsibly sourced materials, with more and more seeing renewable materials as a key element in product differentiation.
