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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.

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