Just Eat calls for sustainable packaging sector to be supported

JUST Eat has called on the UK Government to support the sustainable packaging sector, after new research revealed that people are now less likely to pay a premium for eco-friendly packaging.

The research, conducted by YouGov on behalf of the food order and delivery company, pointed towards a decline in people willing to pay a premium for eco-friendly packaging, when compared to polling conducted in 2019 following the release of David Attenborough’s Blue Planet II.

In 2019, 50% of respondents were willing to pay a premium for eco-friendly packaging, compared to the 33% in the most recent research. As a result, Just Eat is calling on the UK Government to commit to taking action to reduce plastic waste and specifically the use of plastic takeaway boxes.

Just Eat also wants to see government action to support the sustainable packaging sector, saying that it is ‘essential’ to making these items more widely available and driving down costs for businesses and consumers.

The research and accompanying campaign comes as part of Just Eat’s wider mission to raise awareness of the barriers facing restaurants when it comes to implementing sustainable packaging. Just Eat said its aim is to offer sustainable packaging for all cuisine types and added that it is continuing to test new plastic-free solutions and reusable items.

Robin Clark, director of partnerships and sustainability at Just Eat, said, “Reducing plastic in the takeaway sector is a core mission for Just Eat. We are committed to using our scale and influence to drive change across the industry, supporting our restaurant partners and investing in innovative packaging solutions with exciting partners like Notpla. Plastic waste is a significant environmental issue and our research shows it’s still a top concern for consumers.

“If we are to make this work, action is required not just from the public, but wider industry and policymakers. We’re calling on the Government to prioritise the environment and commit to taking further action to reduce plastic waste.”