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Vast majority of adults think retailers use too much packaging, poll claims

One third of participants say they have been ‘put off’ companies due to amount of wrapping

Alice Hughes
Friday 20 December 2019 08:09 EST
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BBC's #OurPlasticFeedback campaign prompts viewer to return her plastic packaging to Tesco

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Eighty-eight per cent of UK adults believe their shopping contains too much packaging, a new poll found.

Amazon and eBay were the worst offenders for using more wrapping than necessary, respondents claimed.

In the survey of 2000 adults, participants said children's toys, cosmetics and mobile phones contained the most over-the-top packaging.

One third said they have been "put off" ordering from the same company again due to the amount of paper or cardboard which came with their order.

The Chartered Institute of Marketing poll found one sixth of respondents believed in-store food shopping also used more wrapping than required for its products.

Chris Daly, CEO at the Chartered Institute of Marketing said: “Making greener purchasing decisions is a growing concern for consumers and increasingly a point of differentiation for brands.

“The study shows how consumers don’t want or require the excess packaging which comes with products - both online and in store.​"

Thirty-eight per cent of respondents also said online clothes shopping deliveries were one of the worst offenders for over packaging items.

More than a quarter of respondents said they would be willing to spend an average of 20 per cent more on a product if they knew the boxes, paper and envelopes used were sustainable.​

Mr Daly said: “What we’re experiencing is a reputational tipping point for brands, where packaging and sustainability initiatives weigh heavy in the minds of the consumer.

“While it’s encouraging that the public broadly think brands are doing more now to tackle avoidable waste, the onus is on the marketing industry to take what consumers are telling us, and help organisations fully buy-in to sustainability led strategies.”

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