Packaging is key issue among consumer sustainability concerns (Part 1)

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The Packer’s research on sustainability explored attitudes toward packaging. 

The survey of growers, retailers and consumers, performed by Aimpoint Research and supported by Apeel Sciences and Emerald Packaging, revealed there is general agreement that consumers want their packaging to be sustainable, said Scott Caine, executive vice president and COO of Aimpoint Research, Columbus, Ohio.

“At the same time, “there is a difference between what they say they want and what they do,” he said. 

“One of the things that we need to recognize is the COVID and the (consumers’) need to ensure that the (produce) that they’re eating is, at least in their mind, protected. The desire to have the right type of (sustainable) packaging has pushed to the side for the desire just to have packaging period.”

While growers and packers will make an effort to offer more sustainable packaging, consumers must vote with their dollars and buy that sustainable packaging.

“If (consumers) don’t live up to their end of the bargain, which is to buy what (grower/packers) produce, then the grower/packers are not going to continue to be able to sustain that effort,” Caine said.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a change in consumer behavior.

“We’ve been experiencing this now for about six months, and some of what we’re doing today, the question is, what of it will stick and what will not stick?

Retailers are about serving consumers and working with growers on sustainability issues and will push progress.

“For retailers, it’s this very interesting razor’s edge walk to stay consistent with what the mood of the market is, and also to continue to deliver it in a way that moves things forward because they fundamentally believe (sustainability) is the right direction to go.”

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