In recent years, a lot of attention has been given to food packaging as a key element that can help address key environmental issues. From this, innovations such as bio-based and biodegradable packaging have stemmed out of it. Expanded polystyrene, commercially known as Styrofoam is the most common choice of takeaway food packaging for most restaurants in Eswatini. This is a non-biodegradable material that is harmful to the environment. This research therefore seeks to understand whether consumers in the industry are aware of this omnipresent product being a hazard to the environment. We also aim to understand the level of environmental sustainability awareness amongst consumers by investigating if education institutions and the government are playing any role in creating this awareness. A qualitative methodology, using a grounded theory approach was adopted to conduct the research. Results showed that consumers are environmentally aware, with education institutions and government having played a role in that, however quite minimally and ineffectively so. As a result, we also conclude that environmental awareness does not equal to environmental consciousness. This study may be of interest to policy makers as well as business leaders who wish to better understand the modern Swazi customer in relation to sustainable packaging.

ABSTRACT 2
AKNOWLEDGEMENTS 3
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION 8
1.1 Research Context and Background 9
1.2 Research Gap 10
1.3 Research Question and Objectives 11
1.4 Research Aims 11
CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW 13
2.1 The Three Pillars of Sustainability 13
2.1.1 Environmental Sustainability 14
2.1.2 Indicators for Environmental Sustainability 16
2.2 Environmental Sustainability Awareness in Africa 16
2.3 What is Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)? 19
2.3.1 The Negative Impacts of Styrofoam 20
2.3.2 Countries That Have Banned Styrofoam 21
2.3.3 Biodegradable Alternatives 22
2.4 Plastic Waste Challenges in Eswatini 22
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY 26
3.1 Research Approach 26
3.2 Sampling Strategy 27
3.3 Data Collection Instrument and Application 28
3.3.1 Application of Instrument 29
3.4 Data Analysis 29
CHAPTER IV: FINDINGS 31
4.1 Education on Environmental Sustainability 31
4.1.1 Minimal Education on Environmental Sustainability 31
4.1.2 Littering Tied to Hygienic Practices 33
4.2 Environmental Sustainability Awareness 34
4.2.1 Awareness on Environmental Sustainability 34
4.2.2 Level of Environmental Consciousness 35
4.3 Attitude Towards Packaging 36
4.3.1 Perception Towards Styrofoam 37
4.3.2 Acknowledgement of Biodegradable Alternatives 38
4.4 Government Efforts 39
4.4.1 Phatsa Sakho Nawe Campaign 39
4.4.2 Mass Litter Clean-up Initiatives 40
4.4.2 Ineffective Spread of Information 41
CHAPTER V: DISCUSSION 43
CHAPTER IV: CONCLUSION 47
6.1 Recommendations 48
6.2 Limitations 50
6.3 Future Research 50
REFERENCES 51
APPENDICES 56
Appendix 1: Data Structure Table 56
Appendix 2: Simplified Data Structure Table 67
Appendix 3: The Waffle Palace Paper-based Packaging 68
Appendix 4: Phatsa Sakho Nawe Campaign Reusable Shopping Bag 68

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