Consumers don’t assume that UK shops and types are doing sufficient to cut back using plastic packaging, in line with new analysis1 by way of Aquapak, which confirmed that 65% felt that they had been falling quick with regards to reducing damaging plastic, with simply 18% announcing they’re doing sufficient.
The findings display that British consumers need to see shops take sure steps to cut back the have an effect on of the packaging they use at the atmosphere:
- 59% mentioned they sought after to peer the traditional plastic utilized in packaging changed with another subject matter which will also be recycled and doesn’t hurt the surroundings.
- 57% mentioned they will have to use extra paper-based packaging which is able to cross into kerbside recycling collections.
- 49% mentioned that they will have to forestall the use of conventional single-use plastic totally.
If such adjustments don’t seem to be made, the findings counsel that buyers are glad to vote with their toes.
Over the following one year, 56% of the ones surveyed mentioned they’re going to try to purchase extra merchandise that don’t use single-use plastic packaging, akin to polyethylene baggage and difficult to recycle packaging like crisp packets and chocolate wrappers. They are ready to take much more excessive steps over the following 3 years, with 46% announcing they’re going to forestall purchasing merchandise that use single-use packaging and difficult to recycle packaging altogether.
For shops and types going through environmental demanding situations all over the provision chain, they will have to take middle from the truth that nearly one 3rd (32%) of shoppers mentioned that they’d be ready to pay extra for packaging which is 100% recyclable once they purchase merchandise akin to dry meals and snacks. Of those, 43% mentioned they’d pay 5% extra. Some 30% mentioned they’d pay extra for clothes and accessories packaged in recyclable subject matter, with 41% of those announcing that will be at liberty to pay 5% extra.
Aquapak has evolved a marine-safe, non-toxic polymer era known as Hydropol, which breaks down harmlessly in all current recycling streams. When used rather than typical plastic in crisp and snack wrappers it makes unrecyclable packaging totally recyclable for the reason that Hydropol layer is formulated to dissolve or biodegrades totally. If it does get away into the surroundings, it’s simply damaged down by way of micro-organisms with out forming damaging microplastics. Nothing is left in the back of with the exception of CO2, water and biomass that may also be utilized in renewable power vegetation. This implies that shoppers can put packaging and wrappers made with Hydropol of their kerbside collections the place it’s recycled along paper, plastic, steel or meals with none possibility of contamination, the place it disappears with no hint.
Garment baggage made with Hydropol provide 0 end-of-life problems for shoppers and types. They will also be disposed of in current home waste streams with out contaminating different recyclable merchandise or they may be able to be dissolved straight away in scorching water at house with out generating unhealthy micro-plastics. They additionally degrade harmlessly on land or within the ocean.
Mark Lapping, leader govt officer of Aquapak, feedback: “Our analysis displays that buyers need to see extra from manufacturers and shops with regards to reducing using plastic packaging. We recognise that companies have many demanding situations to take care of when it comes sustainability, if it is carbon, water or biodiversity however it will be significant that they don’t simply pay lip provider to new applied sciences however go for actual exchange.
“The good news is that there is a commercially proven solution that will make their plastic packaging problems disappear. We have developed Hydropol which can be incorporated into paper to create planet-friendly wrappers for dry foods, snacks and confectionery, or used as film to make garment bags, providing an alternative to current packaging which is hard to recycle and inconvenient for consumers.”
1Research carried out with 751 UK adults by way of Consumer Intelligence 1 February 2025
