Pandemic Sharpens Focus on Food Packaging
Consumers say they will look at food labels and packaging because of the coronavirus.
Sep 25, 2020 | 2 min read
AURORA, Ill.—The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the significance of food labels and packaging, with seven out of 10 respondents surveyed saying packaging is important for products, according to a new study by Shorr Packaging, the Food Dive reports.
These consumers “always” or “most of the time” read labels, with two-thirds of consumers saying they would keep a closer eye on food labels and packaging, according to the study. Forty-seven percent of those surveyed said packaging informed their purchase of unfamiliar brands, while close to 90% said they would buy those food products again soon.
Fifty-eight percent of respondents said they were “likely” or “very likely” to buy food products in packaging clearly labeled as reusable or recyclable, while 28% said they would be likely to purchase unfamiliar food products packaged in a unique way again. Packaging has been pushed to the forefront of many food companies, with Nestlé earmarking billions to develop sustainable alternatives and Tetra Pak debuting innovative designs with eco-friendly options.
Eco-friendly and transparent packaging have emerged as two trends consumers are interested in. Three-fourths of respondents indicated that better-for-you and healthy foods should come in sustainable packaging.
More companies are exploring reusable containers for products from laundry soap to flour. For example, this summer, Loop expanded its return-reuse model to 48 states.
Loop is included in NACS Magazine’s look at “Sustainable—and Safe” packaging in the June issue. Read it now at NACSMagazine.com.
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