The Influence of sustainable packaging practices on the operational efficiency of global fast-food outlets in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Sustainable packaging aims to minimize environmental impact throughout a product's lifecycle by utilizing renewable or recycled materials, ensuring energy-efficient production, and designing for reuse or recyclability. Fast-food outlets, which have a heavy reliance on single-use plastics, are currently facing pressure to adopt sustainable packaging. This study’s general objective was to examine the effect of adopting sustainable packaging on the operational efficiency of international fast-food outlets in Nairobi. The specific objectives of the study were to investigate the effect of efficient packaging design on the operational efficiency of international fast-food outlets in Nairobi; to investigate the relationship between recyclability and operational efficiency of international fast-food outlets in Nairobi and to assess the effect of consumer responsibility awareness on operational efficiency of international fast-food outlets in Nairobi. Two theories anchored the study and they were triple bottom line (TBL) framework and lean management theory. This study was underpinned by a quantitative methodology and anchored in positivism research philosophy. The target population was 31 international fast-food outlets. The researcher undertook a convenience sampling of one branch per the global fast-food chain where the employees from the three cadres in the fast-food outlets were selected. For this purpose, a questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale was used to gather information. In order to analyse the data, the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27 was used. Prior to analysis, the data was cleansed and prepared. The survey was filled out by 93 people in total. We used both descriptive and inferential statistics to examine the data. The impact of the independent factors on the dependent variable was determined by a regression analysis. Tables and charts displayed the results of the analysis. Sustainable packaging techniques were shown to have a favourable and statistically significant relationship with operational efficiency at Nairobi's international fast-food outlets. The regression model showed that material sustainability, packaging design, recyclability, consumer responsibility collectively explains 32.8 percent of the variability. The study also revealed that the most significant variable was recyclability. The study concludes that a sustainable packaging practices, significantly contributes to the operational efficiency of international fast-food outlets operating in Nairobi.