22/07/2025
We closed our Sustainable Foods Summit a few weeks ago in Amsterdam with a lively panel discussion on packaging.
✋ The topic of discussion was consumer behaviour towards packaging. Packaging is generally perceived as a waste material and discarded. There is low awareness of the environmental impact of packaging waste, whether to marine ecosystems or to landfill.
❔ The panel was asked how could consumer attitudes towards packaging be changed? How could they take alternative retail models like refillables and unpackaged products more seriously?
✳️ The general consensus from the panel was that consumer education is the key; they need to be informed of the purpose of packaging, as well as the need to recycle / re-use.
❇️ Lack of recycling infrastructure was cited as a major reason for low recycling rates. It was sometimes too difficult for consumers to ‘do the right thing’ and recycle.
🟩 Low incentives was cited as a factor. Giving the example of Lush, one of the panellists said consumers needed to be rewarded to not dispose of their packaging. The ethical retailer gives a small rebate to its customers if they return their packaging.
✳️ The government and regulations also need to nudge consumers to change their behaviour. The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) plans to reduce packaging waste and recyclability, however there are questions as to how it will raise consumer awareness of environmental issues associated with packaging.
🤝 We would like to thank FoodChain ID and Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) as sponsors, as well as participants for the informative discussions at the European edition of the Sustainable Foods Summit.
⏭️ Green packaging solutions will be featured at the next Sustainable Cosmetics Summit, hosted in Paris on 22-23rd October. More details are on https://www.sustainablecosmeticssummit.com/Europe/
Tanja Tiede Tiina Pursula Shell L. Andrea Lunzer Amarjit Sahota
