UK consumers are turning their sustainability efforts towards resourceful consumption, reducing food waste to shop sustainably while keeping food bills down, according to the latest data from Retail Insight, the leading provider of store operations execution software.
The latest data from WRAP suggests UK households throw away 4.5 million tonnes of edible food each year, costing almost £3.5billion to household budgets despite increased grocery prices and the rising cost-of-living. However, original research of over 1,000 UK shoppers by Retail Insight revealed that, despite these pressures, 79% have tried to be more sustainable in their buying habits in the last 12months.
With the average UK household now spending £87 on groceries each week, 82% are trying to reduce food bills in response to the cost-of-living, up +16% year-on-year.
While disposable incomes remain squeezed, UK consumers’ desire to shop ‘green’ is prompting a shift in sustainability efforts, with shoppers now focusing on minimising food waste, helping them to protect their wallets as well as the planet. Almost half (49%) now ensure they only buy the food they need to reduce waste – up +2% compared to 2022 – while 47% are turning to discounted groceries that are expiring to help retailers send less food to landfill. A further 41% have started meal planning to cut down on overbuying food that could lead to food waste, up +5% year-on-year.
This shift towards green and economical food spending is also changing how consumers want retailers to evolve their sustainability efforts. Eighty three (83%) said retailers could do more to improve their green credentials, rising +9% year-on-year and increasing to 90% of Gen Z respondents. Meanwhile, almost three quarters (72%) felt retailers spent too much time championing ‘obvious’ green initiatives, such as recycling, and should do more to focus on reducing food waste.
Paul Boyle, CEO of Retail Insight, commented: “Our research shows that despite the ongoing squeeze on household spending, consumers want budget-friendly ways to shop green. This is prompting more acceptance and demand for marked-down food that cuts costs and reduces waste.”
“Retailers will need to act to meet the increased demand for marked-down goods but will need to ensure that they are maximising their sell-through,” Boyle continued. “Currently, 90% of retailers use static markdowns to sell-through fresh or ambient products nearing their best, which apply binary discounts at various stages leading up to the end of the product’s shelf life. While this helps drive demand, these discounts aren’t optimised for volume or profit maximisation, meaning retailers miss out on uncaptured margin and create excess waste – a ‘lose, lose’ situation. By adopting dynamic markown models, retailers ensure they don’t leave margin opportunities on the table.”
Retail Insight’s WasteInsight cloud-based solution uses cognitive technology to put retailers in control of food waste through data-led, actionable insights that support their entire waste journey. As well as enabling dynamic markdowns, Retail Insight addresses expiration management, more efficient donations to charity partners and improved forecasting accuracy to allow retailers to sell more while wasting less.
