Eviosys has unveiled the results of its 2024 survey, which it said shows a significant shift in European attitudes towards packaging sustainability and material preferences.
The survey, encompassing insights from thousands of consumers and businesses across Europe, underscores a growing consumer consciousness about the environmental impact of their packaging choices.
An overwhelming 59% of consumers expressed frustration about the excessive use of plastic in supermarkets, while 63% recognise metal as a more sustainable alternative.
The findings reveal that 57% of consumers are willing to pay more for products in sustainable packaging, with 82% more inclined to purchase a product if it is in metal packaging, knowing metal’s infinitely recyclable nature.
This preference is not just a nod to sustainability but also a reflection of the evolving consumer value system, where 70% prioritise reusability and recyclability over luxurious or uniquely designed packaging, according to Eviosys.
On the business front, the survey shows a strong industry response to consumer demands, with 90% of businesses investing in sustainable packaging research or implementation in the past year.
However, challenges remain, with a third citing cost constraints as a significant barrier to adopting more sustainable options.
Nevertheless, with 98% of businesses now exhibiting an awareness of the recycling processes and the sustainability of packaging materials, the next step for businesses is to engage with their customers on these issues and foster a shared responsibility along the value chain, said the organisation.
“There are only two permanent materials that can be recycled over and over again infinitely: glass and metal, the other packaging materials will end up in waste at one point in time," said Laetitia Durafour, marketing director at Eviosys.
"As a metal packaging producer, we need to support the brands in their transition to the powerful and truly circular packaging material that metal can be with more clarity and education for consumers.”
Eviosys survey reveals “significant shift” in European packaging preferences
