The findings show that British shoppers want to see retailers take positive steps to reduce the impact of the packaging they use on the environment:
- 59% said they wanted to see the conventional plastic used in packaging replaced with an alternative material which can be recycled and doesn’t harm the environment.
- 57% said they should use more paper-based packaging, which can go into kerbside recycling collections.
- 49% said that they should stop using traditional single-use plastic completely.
If such changes are not made, the findings suggest that consumers are happy to vote with their feet. Over the next 12 months, 56% of those surveyed said they will try to buy more products that do not use single-use plastic packaging, such as polyethylene bags and difficult to recycle packaging like crisp packets and chocolate wrappers. They are prepared to take even more extreme steps over the next three years, with 46% saying they will stop buying products that use single-use packaging and difficult to recycle packaging altogether.
For retailers and brands facing environmental challenges throughout the supply chain, they should take heart from the fact that almost one third (32%) of consumers said that they would be prepared to pay more for packaging which is 100% recyclable when they buy products such as dry foods and snacks. Of these, 43% said they would pay 5% more. Some 30% said they would pay more for clothing and accessories packaged in recyclable material, with 41% of these saying that would be happy to pay 5% more.
Mark Lapping, Chief Executive Officer of Aquapak, comments: “Our research shows that consumers want to see more from brands and retailers when it comes to cutting the use of plastic packaging. We recognise that businesses have many challenges to deal with when it comes to sustainability, whether it is carbon, water, or biodiversity but it is important that they don’t just pay lip service to new technologies but opt for real change.”
