The packaging industry is not carried away by public opinion

Abstract

The size and composition of our bin has changed over the years, as a result of the evolution of our way of living and our consumption habits. The wider range of goods now offered to consumers has resulted in significant augmentation of waste discarded in the form of packaging. The latter is estimated to represent about 30% by weight of total domestic waste. More than ever concerned about environmental issues, the public, alarmed by the media, has shown a strong interest in the problem of waste and waste management.Packaging is now felt as excessive, wasteful and bad for the environment, in particular plastic packaging since plastics are not as easily recycled as other materials. This paper, which includes the results of a consumer survey, brings to light the attitude and misconception of European consumers towards packaging and packaging materials and gives another insight into the problem.

Does green packaging matter as a business strategy? Exploring young consumers’ consumption in an emerging market

“…Waste from the product packaging inflicted by the consumers causes a poor condition for environmental sustainability (Biod et al, 1994). Yatna and Setyawan (2016) stated the importance of early awareness in managing the dangerous and decomposable waste, such as plastic packaging.…”

Packaging and Proenvironmental Consumption Behavior

“…Despite changes in consumption habits and lifestyles during the past decades, the notion that Western consumers live in a "throw-away" society has only been strengthened (Cairncross, 1991;O'Shaughnessy & O'Shaughnessy, 2002). Unlike many other ecological concerns, packaging waste is both highly observable through litter dumps and landfills, and involves nearly all consumers (Biod, Probert, & Jones, 1994). Through improved understanding of the factors that drive consumers toward more ecological purchase choices and disposal behavior (Calcott & Walls, 2005;Dietz, Stern, & Guagnano, 1998), governments and companies may be able to influence consumers' environmental mind-set and behavior in the long run.…”

Industry 4.0 technologies in the manufacturing sector: Are we sure they are all relevant for environmental performance?

“…During the First Industrial Revolution, for instance, the United Kingdom suffered terrible air pollution from the burning of coal, whereas other industrial revolutions have led to severe environmental impacts such as resource consumption, waste and carbon emissions. We could think about the use of some plastics considered at the beginning as a revolution in terms of costs and quality characteristics but now a great concern for the environment (Biod et al, 1994; Bos‐Brouwers, 2010; Pazienza & De Lucia, 2020). Therefore, while we may be confident about the positive effects of i4.0 on cost reduction, quality and service, the jury is still out about the pros and cons of adopting i4.0 technologies for improving environmental performance, despite the positivity of a number of authors.…”