Survey shows that nearly two-thirds of consumers think paper packaging is more environmentally friendly

Survey shows that nearly two-thirds of consumers think paper packaging is more environmentally friendly

Nearly two-thirds of consumers think paper packaging is more environmentally friendly, according to a new study conducted before the ban.
In March 2020, Toluna, an independent research company, was commissioned by two sides, a paper advocacy organization, to investigate 5900 European consumers’ packaging preferences, concepts and attitudes. The results show that paper or cardboard packaging is favored because of its many specific properties.
63% think the cartons are more environmentally friendly, 57% think the cartons are easier to recycle, 72% think the cartons are easier to compost at home.
Three out of ten consumers think paper or cardboard is the most recycled packaging material, and they think 60% of paper and cardboard is recycled (the actual recovery rate is 85%).
About half of the respondents (51%) tend to use glass packaging to protect products, while 41% prefer the appearance and feel of glass.
Consumers think that glass is the second largest recyclable packaging material, followed by metal. However, the actual recoveries were 74% and 80%, respectively.
In addition, the survey shows that consumers’ attitudes towards plastic packaging are mostly negative.
Jonathan tame, managing director of two sides, said: “after David Attenborough’s” Blue Planet 2 “and other thought-provoking documentaries showed the impact of our garbage on the natural environment, packaging was firmly on the consumer’s agenda.”
Nearly three-quarters (70%) of the respondents said they are actively taking measures to reduce the use of plastic packaging, while 63% of consumers think that the recovery rate is less than 40% (42% of plastic packaging in Europe is recycled).
Consumers across Europe say they are willing to change their behavior and shop in a more sustainable way, of which 44% are willing to spend more on products packaged with sustainable materials, while 48% are willing to consider avoiding retailers and reducing the use of non recyclable packaging if they think retailers have done too little to reduce product waste.
“Consumers are becoming more aware of the packaging choices they are buying, which in turn puts pressure on businesses, especially retailers,” tame said
It is undeniable that the way of “manufacturing, using and disposing” in packaging industry is slowly changing…