# Sustainable Grocery Food retailers adopt sustainable practices to showcase eco awareness. By [Tana Makmanee](https://www.trendhunter.com/tmak), SVP, Research Services at Trend Hunter | Published Oct 22, 2014 | Category: [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/environmental-trends) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/conscious-food-retail ## Key Figures - Trend score: 4.7/10 - Evidence articles: 4 ## What is the Sustainable Grocery trend? **Sustainable Grocery:** Seeking to showcase a sense of environmental awareness, food retailers and supermarkets are turning to sustainable practices for public appeal. Using recyclable packaging and zero-waste policies to illustrate a commitment to environmental causes, familiar retail settings are taking a more forthright step to showcase participation in green issues. This reflects a growing desire to integrate eco awareness into routine, everyday practices. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 4 featured examples - Articles from: May 8, 2014 to Dec 17, 2015 - Published: Oct 22, 2014 - Patterns: [Cyclicality](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/cyclicality) - Megatrends: [Simplicity](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/simplicity), [Naturality](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/naturality), [Catalyzation](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/catalyzation) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Themes within the Sustainable Grocery trend ### Sustainable Packaging Food retailers and supermarkets are turning to recyclable packaging to showcase eco awareness, offering disruptive innovation opportunities for companies that specialize in eco-friendly packaging solutions. ### Anti-Food Waste Eliminating food waste has become a growing concern for many grocery stores and companies, leading to disruptive innovation opportunities for anti-food waste apps to help reduce surplus food from being wasted. ### Discount Programs for Imperfect Products As consumers demand more natural, preservative-free products, grocery stores are offering discounted pricing for misshapen or almost expired products, leading to disruptive innovation opportunities for companies that specialize in packaging, branding, and selling discounted products. ## What the Sustainable Grocery trend means for industry ### For Packaging Industry The trend towards using sustainable packaging practices creates opportunities for this industry to market eco-friendly and recyclable packaging solutions. ### For Food Waste Management Industry Reducing food waste is a growing concern, and thus industries specializing in food surplus management, and anti-food waste apps have a chance to capitalize on this trend. ### For Discounted Grocer Industry Several discount grocers are making their mark, and this industry is gaining traction as grocery stores find ways to sell their imperfect inventory, along with additional hidden savings provided by the close ties with farmers and local markets. ## Trend signals for Sustainable Grocery Trend score 4.7 out of 10, from popularity 80%, activity 54%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 80% - Activity: 54% - Freshness: 8% ## Examples of the Sustainable Grocery trend 4 featured examples from May 8, 2014 to Dec 17, 2015. - [Low-Cost Boutique Grocers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/boutique-grocer): Daily Table Offers Healthy and Premium Food Items at Low Prices (Category: Social Good) Implication: Existing grocery retailers can explore cost-effective ways to offer premium products, create socially responsible business practices and repurpose excess goods. - [Anti-Food Waste Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pareup-app): The PareUp App Lets You Buy Excess Food From Retailers at a Low Cost (Category: Eco) Implication: The PareUp App's approach to reducing food wastage through partnerships with supermarkets and restaurants presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the food distribution ind… - [Waste-Reducing Mobile Discounts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/food-coupons): EcoBasket Hopes to Offer Perishable Food Coupons via Smartphones (Category: Eco) Implication: The trend of mobile perishable coupons is particularly suited for supermarkets, providing an innovative way to reduce waste while offering cost savings to consumers. - [Misshapen Produce Discounts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/produce-waste): Imperfect is a Startup That Aims to Cut Down on Produce Waste (Category: Eco) Implication: Opportunity for disruptive innovation in farming practices, such as selective harvesting and packaging, to reduce produce waste and increase profitability. ## Recent trend clusters - [Automated Upkeep](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/automated-upkeep) (Tech) - [Serial Snacking](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/serial-snacking) (Lifestyle) - [Autumn Teasers](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/autumn-teasers) (Business) - [Ambient Assistance](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/ambient-assistance) (Tech) ## Trending in Eco - [Backpack-Sized Folding Scooters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blizwheel-f05) - [Aftermarket Cyclist Motor Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/asus-oxiis-e250g1) - [Jewel-Toned Fall Apparel](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/quince-silk) - [Sustainability-Focused Brand Progress Reports](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/performance-summary) All articles: [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco)