Page 64 - Plastics News February 2024

IN THE NEWS

one of the show’s exhibitors. “Effi- rent shortages of qualified person- challenges.”
ciency will be a key topic at Fakuma nel, consistently high levels of qual- Efficiency was also a key topic at Fa-
2024 – from a variety of perspec- ity can only be achieved reliably and kuma 2023, alongside recyclable de-
tives. Increased efficiency in terms of efficiently with easy-to-use control sign and AI-based solutions.
materials and energy consumption is systems and digital assistance. Our
crucial, as is the efficient operation of innovative strength is the key to suc-
production systems. In light of cur- cessfully tackling current and future

Survey finds majority of consumers don’t prioritise sustainable
packaging

ing, including the culture of conveni-
ence. Some 44% of respondents cited
difficulty in remembering to bring re-
usable packaging, while 39% worried
about the hassle of returning, clean-
ing, or storing reusable packaging.

The survey also found that financial
rewards could incentivise consum-
ers to use reusable packaging more,
leading to 43% of respondents saying
that they would use reusable pack-
aging more if they received a small
monetary reward for returning it, and
37% would do so if there was no fee
to borrow the packaging.
Nearly four in five consumers (78%) do not prioritise products
with sustainable packaging. Demographic differences

PA Consulting (PA), a global innova- tic and unrecyclable materials used in The survey revealed differences in
tion and transformation consultancy, takeaway food and drink packs. motivations and engagement be-
recently conducted a survey of 4,000 Gap between intent and action tween different demographic groups.
consumers in the UK and US, reveal- For example, nearly half (49%) of
ing new insights into consumer atti- Despite these concerns, there is a sig- Baby Boomers would need assurance
tudes towards packaging in the quick- nificant gap between consumer intent of reusable packaging’s cleanliness,
service restaurant industry. and action. While 38% of respond- compared to 31% of Gen Z. Addi-
ents recognise the importance of be- tionally, 43% of Gen Zers were keen
The survey found that nearly four in ing environmentally friendly, they find to receive a donation to a charity of
five consumers (78%) do not priori- it challenging to incorporate this into their choice, compared to 38% of
tise products with reusable and refill- their daily routines. Additionally, 76% Boomers.
able packaging, despite 80% of re- do not choose products with minimal
spondents believing in the importance or no plastic packaging, and 77% do The survey highlights the need for a
of reducing plastics. human-centred approach to design
not choose products made from recy- sustainable solutions. By understand-
The survey also highlighted concerns cled or easily recyclable materials to ing consumer motivations and re-
over single-use plastics, with 80% reduce waste. moving barriers to engagement, busi-
of respondents feeling a collective Barriers to sustainable packaging nesses can encourage planet-positive
responsibility to reduce their usage. adoption consumer behaviour and leverage the
Over half (57%) expressed worry full potential of sustainable packaging.
about the amount of single-use plas- The survey identified several barriers
to the adoption of sustainable packag-
66 PLASTICS NEWS February 2024