Paper based containers are the preferred choice of packaging for consumers shopping for groceries and fresh produce, according to an international survey of people from seven European countries including Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland and Spain.
The YouGov poll of 7,086 consumers showed that of 4,857 who expressed a preference for the type of container in which groceries and fresh produce are stored and displayed on shelf, 68 per cent preferred paper-based containers compared with 32 per cent who prefered plastic.
The same consumers were also asked, assuming that all other aspects of a product such as price and quality were equal, how much more or less likely they would be to buy fruits or vegetables from a retailer using paper-based containers compared to plastic ones.
Out of all the consumers asked, 41 per cent stated either that the type of container made no difference to their likelihood to buy a product, or that they did not know. However of the remaining majority of consumers, 85 per cent stated that they would be more likely to buy products in paper-based containers.
The results mirror a similar study conducted last year in the UK. FEFCO’s Secretary General, Angelika Christ, Secretary General of the European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers (FEFCO) said; “The findings show that paper and corrugated remain the most popular form of packaging across major countries in Europe. The results show that consumers are significantly more likely to purchase groceries, including fruit & vegetables, if they are displayed in paper based containers than if they’re displayed in plastic.”