There is a high level of support among the British public for efforts to increase the amount of sustainable packaging used, research conducted by industry analysts at Michael Price Associates (MPA) has found.
Asked whether they would pay more for products that are good for the environment, 74% of respondents said yes, and 28% said they consider whether a product is labelled as such before they make a purchase.
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By GlobalDataPersonal efforts to reduce packaging waste include 32% of consumers buying fewer goods with packaging that is not recyclable. Brands that use recyclable packaging may also see a rise in popularity, with 24% of people saying they make an effort to buy more products that are made from recyclable materials.
However, more than 3% of respondents – equivalent to two million UK adults – admitted to never recycling plastic.
A ban on plastic straws, drinks stirrers and cotton buds will come into effect in England from April 2020 in an effort to reduce plastic waste.
The UK Government estimates that England uses 4.7 billion plastic straws annually. The British public overwhelmingly supports the ban, with more than four in five (83%) respondents to the MPA research agreeing with the move.
MPA delivery manager Stuart Bentley said: “Packaging is a huge industry in the UK, accounting for annual sales of around £11 billion, and our research has found that consumers are shunning single use plastics and unsustainable packaging in a bid to reduce their carbon footprint.
“Although there is some way to go before we become a completely plastic-free society, government schemes such as the plastic straw ban and its investment into making the country a global leader in sustainable packaging will definitely play its part.
“Arguably, the packaging industry is the sector which has had the biggest overhaul in recent years, but several companies are continuing to innovate, and as a result, are playing a leading role in offering consumers the chance to make more sustainable choices.”
