Sustainable Packaging Stats You Should Know

It is important to know and understand the impact that packaging has on the environment, especially as we celebrate the 51^st anniversary of Earth Day. In recent years, consumers have become more concerned with the effect that packaging has and are voicing their opinion on the types of packaging they would like to see.

It is estimated that every person handles over 50 different items of packaging each day, while 72% of consumers say their purchasing decision is influenced by the packaging design, so it is important to create a positive impression. Learn how sustainable packaging influences consumers and the impact packaging has on our everyday lives.

70% of Americans consider sustainability when making a purchase

Between sustainable products and sustainable packaging, consumers are turning to sustainability in their purchases. In fact, 47% of people are willing to pay more for a sustainable product, while one-third would pay 25% more for them.

In addition to the willingness to pay more, 48% of consumers are also willing to change their consumption habits to lower their impact on the environment. As a matter of fact, sustainable product sales in the US have grown almost 20% since 2014 and will continue to grow in the coming years.

67% of American consumers say paper and cardboard based packaging makes a product more attractive than other packaging materials

Because paper and cardboard packaging is perceived better, 49% of consumers are willing to pay more for this type of packaging. Additionally, premium products often come in paper packaging as it is seen more luxurious than plastic. As a matter of fact, 61% of consumers are more likely to repeat a purchase of a luxury product if it came in premium packaging.

57% of consumers prefer products ordered online to be delivered in paper packaging rather than plastic packaging

Additionally, 70% of consumers prefer products ordered online to be delivered in fitting packaging, even though eCommerce purchases are often delivered in boxes that are too big for the product inside. This is due to bigger boxes being easier to handle and less likely to damage the product inside during transit.

1/3 of all landfill waste in the US is packaging waste

Packaging waste takes up a lot of landfill space but there is waste still ending up in oceans. In fact, more than 8 million pieces of land-based plastic enters the ocean, leading to over 350 species being entangled in packaging waste and over 100,000 animals dying each year from plastic entanglement and ingestion.

Sustainable packaging is often more cost-effective than traditional packaging

43% of businesses cite cost as the main barrier to adopting sustainable packaging designs but are often misled. The first step in sustainable packaging is to analyze your current packaging and eliminate unnecessary or wasteful packaging. This often leads to more sustainable practices and utilizing materials that are better for the environment.

With a mission to Package With Less, Rocket Industrial can help you reduce packaging waste, lessen your impact on the environment, and cut your costs. Reach out to a packaging expert to get started and join us at removing millions of pounds of packaging waste from the waste stream.