90% of consumers say sustainability in produce packaging is very important

According to the survey, 44% of consumers rated sustainability in packaging as very important, with 43% rating sustainability in packaging as somewhat, and 13% as not important.

My Post - 2021-11-16T151339.107.jpg
My Post - 2021-11-16T151339.107.jpg
(Graphic by Brooke Park)

The importance of sustainability in packaging is somewhat important or very important for close to 90% of consumers.

Did you miss The Packer’s 2021 Sustainable Produce Summit? Not to worry, access it here or download the complete sustainability survey. Also, read The Packer’s Sustainability Insights Magazine.

The Packer’s Sustainability Insights survey of about 550 primary grocery shoppers, conducted by Farm Journal’s Trust in Food division in late July, asked consumers to rate the importance of sustainability in packaging.

According to the survey, 44% of consumers rated sustainability in packaging as very important, with 43% rating sustainability in packaging as somewhat, and 13% as not important.

The survey found that recyclable, reusable and biodegradable are trigger words that indicate sustainable packaging.

Answering the question, “What does sustainable packaging mean to you? (select all that apply),” consumers said:

  • Recyclable: 56%;
  • Biodegradable: 47%;
  • Reusable: 47%;
  • Made from recycled material: 32%;
  • Compostable: 31%;
  • Package protects produce: 28%; and
  • Single use: 18%.
The Packer logo (567x120)
Related Stories
A pioneering pilot from the U.S. Food Waste Pact reveals that redirecting farm-level surplus strawberries into commercial kitchens can deliver an 80% revenue boost over juicing channels for growers while offering foodservice operators a 22.4% cost savings.
At Newtopia Now, Whole Foods Market leaders revealed how emerging brands can win shelf space through story-driven packaging, practical product innovation and data-backed pitch strategies.
While compostable packaging offers promising circular sustainability for produce, widespread adoption remains constrained by higher costs and performance trade-offs.
Read Next
Discover how retailers can reverse declining produce sales among high-value Hispanic shoppers by tuning into The Packer’s new on-demand webinar, “Billions in the Basket,” featuring actionable, year-round engagement strategies from industry experts.
Get Daily News
GET MARKET ALERTS
Get News & Markets App