China Consumers Association Report: Eco-Friendly, Reduced and Recyclable Packaging in Demand; Integrated Design Favored by 80.4% of Consumers

The China Consumers Association's 'Research on Excessive Packaging of Goods and Consumer Perception Survey Report' points to three main paths that consumers see for the future of product packaging: green packaging (covering eco-friendly, reduced and recyclable formats), a better user experience, and expanded packaging uses. The study also shows that consumer demand for eco-friendly materials, recycling and material reduction ranks high, suggesting that green packaging values are now widely accepted.

Within the green packaging track, consumers favor options that are eco-friendly, reduced and recyclable. Some 67.5% of respondents said future product packaging should use 'eco-friendly packaging materials.' When buying for themselves and when purchasing gifts for family or parents, consumers who prefer products with eco-friendly packaging materials reached 73.0% and 64.5%, respectively—showing that material choice matters greatly in personal and family purchases. In addition, 62.4% believe future packaging should be recyclable, while 46.8% call for 'packaging material reduction.' The survey also found that 88.1% of consumers choose simple packaging when buying for themselves, and 80.4% prefer integrated packaging—defined as gift-box packaging with a handle, which cuts the need for shopping bags and represents a form of packaging reduction.

On the 'enhanced user experience' front, 49.9% of consumers agree that future product packaging should improve usability. They want packaging to be designed in a friendlier way—easy for elderly people and children to open, and convenient to carry, store and use.

The 'expanded packaging uses' direction is supported by 41.6% of consumers. Their reasoning: if opened packaging can serve another purpose, it is less likely to be thrown away as trash, effectively reducing packaging waste and offering a reusable packaging format. Among consumers who prefer expanded uses, 81.2% like 'item storage,' 68.9% like 'making handicrafts from packaging' (for example, paper-shell packaging with a printed pattern on the back that can be cut out for crafts), and 56.4% like 'using it for display.'

The China Consumers Association advises companies to innovate in product packaging across three areas: eco-friendly packaging materials; recycling and material reduction; and enhanced user experience plus expanded packaging uses. It also recommends promoting integrated packaging and encouraging manufacturers and consumers to broaden packaging application scenarios and carry out secondary use and transformation—such as turning packaging into storage boxes, toys or craft materials—so that 'packaging' becomes 'waste' more slowly. These steps, the association says, can help cut environmental pollution and resource waste while giving consumers a better experience.

——This article is reprinted from China Packaging Network (pack.cn), original link: http://news.pack.cn/show-379301.html