Growers aim for sustainable packaging, but it is a moving target
The concept of “sustainable packaging” is fluid, and growers polled by The Packer in the 2022 Sustainability Insights Survey expressed a variety of opinions about what the words mean to them.
When asked what sustainable packaging means to them, more than half of growers chose “biodegradable,” “recyclable,” and “reusable” when asked to define sustainable packaging.
Read the full survey results here.
Cost-share
The Packer’s survey of growers asked how the cost of sustainable packaging should be shared across the supply chain.
In their responses, growers' opinions were decidedly mixed regarding how the cost of sustainable packaging should be shared across all groups in the food chain.
Asked the question, “How should the cost of sustainable packaging be shared across the supply chain?” growers responded:
• A combination of growers, retailers, wholesalers, and processors: 26%
• Solely the responsibility of the consumers: 21%
• Solely the responsibility of the processor: 4%
• Solely the responsibility of the growers: 4%
• Solely the responsibility of the wholesalers: 3%
• Combination of all of the above 42%
• I don't know: 2%
Willing to contribute?
Most growers feel consumers may only be willing to pay 10% or less for more sustainable packaging, according to The Packer’s survey.
Asked the question, “How much more do you think consumers are willing to pay for more sustainable packaging?” growers said:
• I don't think consumers will pay more for sustainable packaging: 47%
• 5 to 10% more: 40%
• 11 to 15% more: 6%
• 16 to 20% more: 6%
• 21% or more: 2%
Striving to meet expectations
As it stands now, growers polled by The Packer don’t feel like they are well-equipped to meet the expectations for sustainable packaging from retailers and consumers.
Most growers polled said that sustainable packaging does not serve to increase the prices they receive for produce, and many feel that affordable sustainable packaging options are scarce.
Only 36% of growers felt like they are equipped to meet food retailer expectations of sustainable produce packaging, with 64% indicating they are not equipped.
Likewise, only 40% of consumers feel like they are equipped to meet consumer expectations related to sustainable packaging.
Sixty-three percent of growers said they don’t feel that sustainable packaging increases the prices they receive for their product, with 37% indicating that sustainable packaging does increase prices received.
A whopping 81% of growers indicated that the sustainable packaging alternatives available to them were not affordable; less than one in five said they have access to affordable sustainable packaging.
What’s more, only 27% of growers feel they have an “adequate number” of sustainable packaging options to choose from.
