In response to changing consumer demand, many small businesses in the food and drink sector are targeting growth through sustainability and have made ‘becoming more green’ a top business priority for 2021, according to a new research report from E.ON.
The research suggests that the Covid pandemic has caused a significant shift in consumer behaviour, with more than a third of the British public (36%) now purchasing more sustainable goods and services than they did before.
It adds that the food and drink industry is where consumers most expect strong environmental credentials, with company websites (39%) and product packaging (36%) being the places they check most frequently for sustainability information.
The demand for sustainability has been noticed across the industry, with over three quarters (78%) of SMEs reporting greater demand for sustainable products and practices from their customers in the last year. Three quarters (75%) said increased pressure to act is even coming from their own staff.
Based on surveys of small business leaders and consumers across the UK, E.ON’s Renewable Returns report looks at the impact of changing consumer and business behaviour, and outlines some of the steps which small and medium-sized businesses can take to capitalise on the ‘green economic recovery’.
“Small businesses are the engine of the British economy, and we can help make sure they’re equipped to take maximum advantage of the green economic recovery.”
The report demonstrates that more needs to be done to support SMEs in the sector, with currently only 30% of food processing firms regularly displaying their environmental credentials to customers.
Michael Lewis, CEO of E.ON UK, said: “The Covid pandemic has heightened people’s concerns around the climate crisis including the environmental footprint of the products and services we buy and what we can do to improve. It’s clear there is a real opportunity for small businesses in the food and drink industry to embrace the green economic recovery and lead the charge in providing customers with the sustainable products they demand.”
He continued: “Small businesses are the engine of the British economy, and we can help make sure they’re equipped to take maximum advantage of the green economic recovery – providing the smart, personalised and sustainable solutions they need to be part of the new energy world. That means everything from 100% renewables-backed electricity at no extra cost for our direct customers, to smart meters and new technologies such as electric vehicle charging, solar panels and battery storage.”
E.ON’s research asserts that there could be significant commercial gain for small food and drink businesses who can successfully convince customers of their environmental credentials. The results show more than a third (34%) of people have knowingly chosen to pay more for ‘green’ products since the pandemic and more than half (51%) think the environmental credentials of a product or service are now just as important as the price they pay for it. According to the research, on average, consumers say they are willing to pay 3% more for goods that are sustainable.
Based on the average yearly turnover of an SME in 2019 – which was £370,000 according to Government figures – this increase could be worth as much as £11,100 a year to annual earnings.
