According to Ipsos, one in three of our countries is ready to refuse products in non-recyclable packaging. But only 2% believe that consumers also need to do something themselves to solve the problem of overabundance of garbage.
Sustainability of packaging is becoming a factor that influences consumer choice of products and even stores, according to the results of a global study by Ipsos. From February 22 to March 8, 2019, its specialists conducted online surveys in 28 countries, in which 19,5 thousand respondents took part.
According to the study, 31% of consumers surveyed in our country are ready to refuse products in packaging that cannot be recycled. Few are ready to go further and stop shopping in stores that sell a lot of goods in such packaging, according to 7% of our countries surveyed. This is the lowest level in the 28 countries of the study, while the global average is 20%.
Consumers are increasingly paying attention to the composition of packaging and the possibility of recycling it, says Irina Antyushina, a representative of the Russian office of Unilever. Maria Kurnosova, Communications Director of Auchan Retail Our Country, also notes that consumers have become more concerned about the environmental friendliness of packaging. In her opinion, this is a “very positive trend”, since awareness of both retailers and customers is important in this matter.
In November 2017, Auchan in our country has already stopped issuing free plastic bags to hypermarket visitors. Instead, the retailer offers eco-friendly bags made from 40% recycled materials, as well as paper bags and reusable bags. The company explained its decision by concern for the environment. Later, Azbuka Vkusa also refused free plastic bags.
There is indeed a tendency to refuse to buy goods in non-environmentally friendly packaging, Andrei Golubkov, director of public relations at Azbuka Vkusa, confirms. But it’s being promoted, he says, mostly by conservation groups, bloggers and a small group of “advanced consumers.” Most buyers are primarily concerned about the quality, naturalness and safety of the products themselves, and not the environmental friendliness of the packaging, adds Golubkov.
To solve the garbage problem, the respondents in our country do not see two main ways. More than half of respondents (51%) believe that packaging should be reused to reduce waste. Another 40% are ready to buy goods made from recycled materials.
Manufacturers of goods themselves should reduce the volume of excess packaging, according to 34% of our country’s respondents. In other countries of the world, only every fifth respondent thinks so. 15% of our countries consider the problem of excess packaging to be the responsibility of the government, and 8% – that retailers should be responsible for this. At the same time, our country itself does not want to make efforts: only 2% of respondents believe that consumers should solve this problem. For comparison: in other countries, 9% of respondents consider this their area of responsibility.
- Mondelēz International, the manufacturer of Milka chocolate and Yubileinoye cookies, has been reducing the amount of packaging since 2013 and expects to reduce the volume of packaging by 2020 million kg worldwide by 65, a representative of the Russian office said. The company also plans to completely switch to recyclable packaging by 2025.
- Unilever also aims to move towards 2025% recyclable packaging by 2020, and reduce all packaging by 50% by 80, eliminating redundant and disposable packaging. At the same time, today about XNUMX% of the polymer packaging used in the manufacture of Unilever products in our country is recyclable, the company representative added.