Americans are flagging plastic bags as a major environmental issue, with 73% saying they are a pressing problem. At the same time, the sustainable packaging market is projected to climb to $474.7 billion by 2030 and brands are moving from vague eco claims to measurable cuts in water, energy, food waste, and plastic per serving. The tension is that waste and messaging are rising together, and the QSR industry is being reshaped by both consumer expectations and new regulation.
Key Takeaways
- 73% of Americans report that plastic bags are a major environmental issue
- The global sustainable packaging market is projected to reach $474.7 billion by 2030
- The global plant-based meat market is expected to reach $8.3 billion by 2030
- Starbucks achieved a 28% reduction in water use intensity from 2008 to 2023
- Chipotle reduced food waste by 37% per store from 2019 to 2023
- Subway reduced energy consumption per store by 23% from 2012 to 2022
- In 2022, landfill disposal costs for businesses averaged $75 per ton in the U.S.
- Food waste represents 4% of U.S. GDP loss from inefficiencies, equivalent to $412 billion per year
- A 2018 peer-reviewed meta-analysis found that anaerobic digestion can reduce waste management costs by up to 30% compared with landfill in some settings
- As of 2024, 9 U.S. states and many municipalities implemented single-use plastic bag or container restrictions affecting foodservice
- California’s SB 54 requires covered businesses to arrange for recycling and/or composting services by 2022
- California’s SB 1383 (2016) extended the requirement to recycle and/or compost at facilities, including food facilities generating solid waste
- 53% of U.S. adults say companies should have to disclose more information about their environmental impact
- 71% of U.S. consumers say that sustainability is important when deciding which restaurants to patronize
- 65% of consumers globally report that they consider sustainability information when choosing brands
With major consumer concern about packaging and food waste, QSRs are rapidly scaling sustainable and reusable solutions.
Related reading
- Sustainability In IndustrySustainability In The Service Industry Statistics
- Sustainability In IndustrySustainability In The Fast Food Industry Statistics
- Sustainability In IndustrySustainability In The Consumer Products Industry Statistics
- Sustainability In IndustrySustainability In The Grocery Industry Statistics
01 · Category
Market Size16 stats
01
73% of Americans report that plastic bags are a major environmental issuehttps://www.pewresearch.org/science/2019/05/09/public-attitudes-about-climate-change-and-the-environment/
02
The global sustainable packaging market is projected to reach $474.7 billion by 2030https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/sustainable-packaging-market-106818
03
The global plant-based meat market is expected to reach $8.3 billion by 2030https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/plant-based-meat-market-105172
04
The global reusable packaging market is forecast to reach $6.6 billion by 2032https://www.precedenceresearch.com/reusable-packaging-market
05
The global circular packaging market is projected to grow to $29.3 billion by 2032https://www.imarcgroup.com/circular-packaging-market
06
In 2023, U.S. fast food restaurants spent $3.1 billion on marketing for sustainable or eco-friendly messaginghttps://www.statista.com/topics/2501/sustainable-marketing-in-the-united-states/
07
The U.S. foodservice disposables market was valued at $23.9 billion in 2023https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/foodservice-disposables-market-A07151
08
The global food waste recycling market is projected to reach $12.9 billion by 2030https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/food-waste-recycling-market
09
The global organic food market is projected to reach $323.0 billion by 2032https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/organic-food-market
10
The global compostable packaging market is forecast to reach $8.0 billion by 2031https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/compostable-packaging-market-193395336.html
11
The global foodservice disposables market is projected to reach $30.3 billion by 2030https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/03/01/2834035/0/en/Foodservice-Disposables-Market-Size-to-Reach-30-3-Billion-by-2030-Fast-Growth-Expected-Driven-by-Food-Delivery-Consumption.html
12
The global sustainable packaging market size was $355.7 billion in 2023https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/01/18/2816510/0/en/Sustainable-Packaging-Market-Size-Was-355-7-Billion-in-2023-Sets-Stage-for-Continued-Growth-to-474-7-Billion-by-2030.html
13
The global compostable packaging market size was $2.7 billion in 2023https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/02/06/2825923/0/en/Compostable-Packaging-Market-Size-to-Reach-8-0-Billion-by-2031.html
14
The global reusable packaging market size was $3.9 billion in 2022https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/03/22/2838459/0/en/Reusable-Packaging-Market-Size-Was-3-9-Billion-in-2022-Projected-to-Grow-to-6-6-Billion-by-2032.html
15
The global circular packaging market size was $18.2 billion in 2023https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/05/15/2859702/0/en/Circular-Packaging-Market-Size-Was-18-2-Billion-in-2023-and-Expected-to-Reach-29-3-Billion-by-2032.html
16
In 2022, U.S. restaurants recorded 71,179 establishments in the “Full-Service Restaurants” segmenthttps://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/full-service-restaurants-industry/
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
Market size signals rapid momentum in sustainability for QSR as the global sustainable packaging market is already $355.7 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $474.7 billion by 2030, alongside a growing ecosystem of compostable packaging, circular packaging, and reusable packaging markets.
02 · Category
Performance Metrics5 stats
01
Starbucks achieved a 28% reduction in water use intensity from 2008 to 2023https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2024/starbucks-2023-global-social-impact-report/
02
Chipotle reduced food waste by 37% per store from 2019 to 2023https://www.chipotle.com/sustainability
03
Subway reduced energy consumption per store by 23% from 2012 to 2022https://www.subway.com/en-us/brand/sustainability
04
Burger King committed to 100% sustainable sourcing for palm oil by 2022https://www.bk.com/sustainability
05
KFC reduced plastic packaging by 14% per serving in 2023 (versus 2020) in key marketshttps://www.kfc.com/newsroom
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
Performance metrics across major QSR brands show measurable progress on sustainability, with results such as Starbucks cutting water use intensity by 28% from 2008 to 2023 and Chipotle lowering food waste per store by 37% from 2019 to 2023.
03 · Category
Cost Analysis4 stats
01
In 2022, landfill disposal costs for businesses averaged $75per ton in the U.S.https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-01/documents/landfill-pricing.pdf
02
Food waste represents 4% of U.S. GDP loss from inefficiencies, equivalent to $412 billion per yearhttps://www.nrdc.org/resources/food-waste-and-climate-change-united-states
03
A 2018 peer-reviewed meta-analysis found that anaerobic digestion can reduce waste management costs by up to 30% compared with landfill in some settingshttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479717305610
04
$0.12per pound reduction in food waste can translate into measurable procurement savings for large buyershttps://www.rd.com/article/food-waste-cost/
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
Cost analysis shows that by cutting food waste and shifting away from landfill, QSR operators can target landfill disposal costs averaging $75 per ton in the U.S. and potentially reduce waste management expenses by up to 30% with anaerobic digestion while even a $0.12 per pound reduction can yield procurement savings for large buyers.
04 · Category
Regulation & Reporting7 stats
01
As of 2024, 9 U.S. states and many municipalities implemented single-use plastic bag or container restrictions affecting foodservicehttps://www.ncsl.org/environment-and-natural-resources/single-use-plastic-bans-and-legislation
02
California’s SB 54 requires covered businesses to arrange for recycling and/or composting services by 2022https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=20192019SB54
03
California’s SB 1383 (2016) extended the requirement to recycle and/or compost at facilities, including food facilities generating solid wastehttps://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SB1383
04
EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) sets targets to reduce packaging waste and increase reuse by 2030https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1781/oj
05
In 2023, the SEC adopted climate disclosure rules requiring certain public companies to disclose greenhouse gas emissions with phased implementation dates starting 2024https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2024-31
06
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards include specific disclosures for waste generation and impacts on the environmenthttps://www.globalreporting.org/standards/
07
ISO 14001:2015 provides requirements for an environmental management system to manage environmental impactshttps://www.iso.org/standard/60857.html
Interpretation
Regulation & Reporting Interpretation
From 9 U.S. states plus many municipalities tightening single use packaging rules to California’s SB 54 and SB 1383 requiring recycling or composting and the EU’s PPWR pushing stronger reuse targets by 2030, regulation is steadily forcing QSRs to report and operationalize waste and emissions, reinforced by 2023 SEC climate disclosure rules beginning in 2024 and by frameworks like GRI and ISO 14001.
More related reading
05 · Category
Consumer Sentiment3 stats
01
53% of U.S. adults say companies should have to disclose more information about their environmental impacthttps://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf13312/summary.htm
02
71% of U.S. consumers say that sustainability is important when deciding which restaurants to patronizehttps://www.nrn.com/technology/71-percent-us-consumers-say-sustainability-important-when-deciding-which-restaurants-they-patronize
03
65% of consumers globally report that they consider sustainability information when choosing brandshttps://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/institute-business-value/report/sustainable-impact
Interpretation
Consumer Sentiment Interpretation
From a consumer sentiment perspective, sustainability is no longer optional because 71% of U.S. consumers say it influences which restaurants they choose and 65% of consumers globally consider sustainability information when selecting brands.
06 · Category
Emissions & Energy3 stats
01
U.S. commercial refrigeration is estimated to account for roughly 3% of total U.S. electricity consumptionhttps://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=46539
02
Food waste accounted for about 24% of all methane emissions from the waste sector in 2018https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-12/documents/foodwaste-methane-report-12-2022.pdf
03
In the EU, packaging waste represented about 36% of municipal waste by weight in 2018https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Municipal_waste_statistics
Interpretation
Emissions & Energy Interpretation
In the emissions and energy landscape for the QSR industry, energy demand and waste impacts are significant, with commercial refrigeration using about 3% of all U.S. electricity and food waste driving roughly 24% of methane emissions from the waste sector in 2018.
07 · Category
Operational Performance1 stats
01
In 2022, the U.S. EPA reported that food donation and recovery is expected to prevent about 1.5 million tons of food waste annually from landfills and incinerationhttps://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/food-recovery-hierarchy
Interpretation
Operational Performance Interpretation
In 2022, the U.S. EPA estimated that food donation and recovery could prevent about 1.5 million tons of food waste each year from landfills and incineration, showing how operational efforts can materially improve waste handling performance in the QSR industry.
08 · Category
Policy & Compliance2 stats
01
In the EU, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive revision process sets a 2030 target of at least 70% packaging waste recycling (by material-specific recycling targets)https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/packaging-waste_en
02
Germany’s Packaging Act (VerpackG) requires participation in a dual system for covered sales packaging by companies putting packaging on the markethttps://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/news/packaging-act-clarifies-roles-and-responsibilities-615244
Interpretation
Policy & Compliance Interpretation
From a Policy and Compliance perspective, Europe is tightening sustainability expectations with a 2030 target of at least 70% packaging waste recycling by material-specific targets, while Germany’s VerpackG reinforces compliance by requiring companies that place covered sales packaging on the market to participate in a dual system.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Gabrielle Fontaine. (2026, February 13). Sustainability In The Qsr Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-qsr-industry-statistics
MLA
Gabrielle Fontaine. "Sustainability In The Qsr Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-qsr-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Gabrielle Fontaine. 2026. "Sustainability In The Qsr Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-qsr-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
41 datasets cited across this report
+9 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)