Empaques ecológicos, una práctica con limitaciones y ventajas para los servicios de comida rápida en la ciudad de Machala.

Abstract

The objective of this research was to explore the increase in the use of plastic containers in fast food companies in the city of Machala, motivated by the high demand for home deliveries during the COVID-19 pandemic; in addition, to know the predisposition of the interviewed companies to use environmentally friendly containers in their deliveries, their possible advantages and limitations in the application of this practice in a local context. The methodology applied was qualitative, where information was collected through interviews with the managers of 10 establishments. Among the results obtained, a considerable increase in the use of plastic containers in the delivery service and the existence of barriers for fast food services stand out. Therefore, it is concluded that among the advantages is the predisposition on the part of consumers to buy products in ecological containers and that managers consider the implementation of such containers as a competitive advantage; while the disadvantages are the safety of the trip, the price, the lack of knowledge of suppliers and the unwillingness of consumers to pay more for eco-friendly containers.