​Four in five expect sustainability from operators

Consumers are demanding increasingly more engagement on sustainability from hospitality operators, according to the latest edition of CGA’s Future Shock report.

More than four in five (83.1%) people now expect the hospitality brands they use to engage on at least some aspects of sustainability.

Consumers’ number one concern is ethical sourcing of food and drink—something nearly two thirds (64.6%) expect to see.

Around half want to find environmentally friendly packaging (53.9%) and evidence of reduced carbon footprint through menu engineering and commodity usage (50.3%).

CGA data in the Future Shock report also confirms consumers are prepared to pay extra for sustainable practices. Two in five (40.6%) say they would spend more for ethically sourced food and drink, 25.2 for environmentally friendly packaging, 22.7% for a reduced carbon footprint.

However, 43.4% of consumers say higher costs cannot be justified by measures like these, which presents operators with a tough choice: to absorb the costs of investment in sustainability or pass them on to consumers and risk a hit to sales.

Kate Nicholls, CEO of UKHospitality, which co-authored the report, commented: “Sustainability is arguably the key issue of our time. It will become more important and hospitality needs to lead efforts to promote sustainability yet further.”

Karl Chessell, business unit director for food and retail at CGA, said: “Our research for this edition of Future Shock highlights the mounting importance of sustainability in consumers’ choices and behaviour. The environmental impacts of restaurants, pubs, bars and hotels are under intense scrutiny, and all operators will need to demonstrate a genuine commitment to sustainability as we enter the new decade.”