IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i6p2192-d331538.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Consumer Considerations for the Implementation of Sustainable Packaging: A Review

Author

Listed:
  • Ziynet Boz

    (Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, The University of Florida, 1741 Museum Rd., Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
    Packaging Technology and Research, LLC, PO BOX 865, Stillwater, MN 55082, USA)

  • Virpi Korhonen

    (Package Testing and Research Ltd., Myyrmanni Shopping Centre, Iskoskuja 3 A 19, 01600 Vantaa, Finland)

  • Claire Koelsch Sand

    (Packaging Technology and Research, LLC, PO BOX 865, Stillwater, MN 55082, USA)

Abstract

Packaging sustainability concepts have co-evolved with the increasing incorporation of the principles of sustainable development at various levels within industrial and organizational platforms. Currently, pollution from plastics, packaging-related waste, declining air, soil, and water quality, climate change, and other contemporary challenges are influencing the packaging industry. Barriers such as value chain complexities and negative consumer attitudes due to the economic, social, and environmental demands of sustainable behaviors can discourage companies from the implementation of more sustainable packaging. Hence, packages with improved sustainability may never make their way into the marketplace. However, the next generation of sustainable solutions can be motivated by efforts that fuel a positive consumer attitude towards sustainable packaging. In order to direct efforts, a clear understanding of consumer dynamics in ecological material preferences, willingness to pay, recycling, and factors impacting sustainable behaviors are essential. The objective of this work is to (i) explore the definitions, the impact of sustainable packaging in the value chain, and consumer behavior theories; (ii) review current practices, factors affecting sustainable behaviors, and consumer testing methods; (iii) present three distinct case studies on consumer preferences and value perceptions on bio-based cellulose materials and the impact of on-label claims and pre-evaluation education in consumer preferences; and (iv) to reveal the research gaps and opportunities for consumer research and suggest strategies for stakeholders to communicate packaging sustainability to consumers.

Suggested Citation

  • Ziynet Boz & Virpi Korhonen & Claire Koelsch Sand, 2020. "Consumer Considerations for the Implementation of Sustainable Packaging: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-34, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:6:p:2192-:d:331538
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/6/2192/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/6/2192/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Elisa Monnot & Béatrice Parguel & Fanny Reniou, 2015. "Consumer responses to elimination of overpackaging on private label products," Post-Print hal-01644780, HAL.
    2. Damiano Fiorillo, 2013. "Household waste recycling: national survey evidence from Italy," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(8), pages 1125-1151, October.
    3. Alexis Gutierrez & Thomas F. Thornton, 2014. "Can Consumers Understand Sustainability through Seafood Eco-Labels? A U.S. and UK Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(11), pages 1-23, November.
    4. Cornelissen, Gert & Pandelaere, Mario & Warlop, Luk & Dewitte, Siegfried, 2008. "Positive cueing: Promoting sustainable consumer behavior by cueing common environmental behaviors as environmental," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 46-55.
    5. Elisa Monnot & Fanny Reniou & Béatrice Parguel, 2014. "Consumer responses to elimination of overpackaging on private label products," Working Papers halshs-01076408, HAL.
    6. Banjo Roxas & Val Lindsay, 2012. "Social Desirability Bias in Survey Research on Sustainable Development in Small Firms: an Exploratory Analysis of Survey Mode Effect," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(4), pages 223-235, May.
    7. Hornik, Jacob & Cherian, Joseph & Madansky, Michelle & Narayana, Chem, 1995. "Determinants of recycling behavior: A synthesis of research results," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 24(1), pages 105-127.
    8. M. Alex Syaekhoni & Ganjar Alfian & Young S. Kwon, 2017. "Customer Purchasing Behavior Analysis as Alternatives for Supporting In-Store Green Marketing Decision-Making," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-22, November.
    9. Klaiman, Kimberly & Ortega, David L. & Garnache, Cloé, 2016. "Consumer preferences and demand for packaging material and recyclability," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 1-8.
    10. repec:dau:papers:123456789/14053 is not listed on IDEAS
    11. Yu-Shan Chen & Shu-Tzu Hung & Ting-Yu Wang & A-Fen Huang & Yen-Wen Liao, 2017. "The Influence of Excessive Product Packaging on Green Brand Attachment: The Mediation Roles of Green Brand Attitude and Green Brand Image," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-15, April.
    12. Nijdam, Durk & Rood, Trudy & Westhoek, Henk, 2012. "The price of protein: Review of land use and carbon footprints from life cycle assessments of animal food products and their substitutes," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(6), pages 760-770.
    13. Ethan Pancer & Lindsay McShane & Theodore J. Noseworthy, 2017. "Isolated Environmental Cues and Product Efficacy Penalties: The Color Green and Eco-labels," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 143(1), pages 159-177, June.
    14. Tom Kuhlman & John Farrington, 2010. "What is Sustainability?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 2(11), pages 1-13, November.
    15. Veronika Ilyuk & Lauren Block, 2016. "The Effects of Single-Serve Packaging on Consumption Closure and Judgments of Product Efficacy," Journal of Consumer Research, Oxford University Press, vol. 42(6), pages 858-878.
    16. Gadema, Zaina & Oglethorpe, David, 2011. "The use and usefulness of carbon labelling food: A policy perspective from a survey of UK supermarket shoppers," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(6), pages 815-822.
    17. Van Loo, Ellen J. & Caputo, Vincenzina & Nayga, Rodolfo M. & Seo, Han-Seok & Zhang, Baoyue & Verbeke, Wim, 2015. "Sustainability labels on coffee: Consumer preferences, willingness-to-pay and visual attention to attributes," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 215-225.
    18. Joonas Rokka & Liisa Uusitalo, 2008. "Preference for green packaging in consumer product choices : Do consumers care?," Post-Print hal-02313351, HAL.
    19. Igor Popovic & Bart A. G. Bossink & Peter C. van der Sijde, 2019. "Factors Influencing Consumers’ Decision to Purchase Food in Environmentally Friendly Packaging: What Do We Know and Where Do We Go from Here?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-22, December.
    20. Elisa Monnot & Fanny Reniou & Béatrice Parguel, 2014. "Consumer responses to elimination of overpackaging on private label products," Working Papers halshs-01076408, HAL.
    21. Grunert, Klaus G. & Hieke, Sophie & Wills, Josephine, 2014. "Sustainability labels on food products: Consumer motivation, understanding and use," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 177-189.
    22. Carmen Valor, 2008. "Can Consumers Buy Responsibly? Analysis and Solutions for Market Failures," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 31(3), pages 315-326, September.
    23. Lise Magnier & Dominique Crié, 2015. "Communicating packaging eco-friendliness," Post-Print hal-01563044, HAL.
    24. Bjorn De Koeijer & Jos De Lange & Renee Wever, 2017. "Desired, Perceived, and Achieved Sustainability: Trade-Offs in Strategic and Operational Packaging Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-29, October.
    25. Paul, Justin & Modi, Ashwin & Patel, Jayesh, 2016. "Predicting green product consumption using theory of planned behavior and reasoned action," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 123-134.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Lee, Yinjin & Bateman, Alexis, 2021. "The competitiveness of fair trade and organic versus conventional coffee based on consumer panel data," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    2. Ricardo Marques Sastre & Istefani Carísio de Paula & Marcia Elisa Soares Echeveste, 2022. "A Systematic Literature Review on Packaging Sustainability: Contents, Opportunities, and Guidelines," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-31, May.
    3. Yeboah, Samuel, 2023. "Navigating Sustainability: Unveiling Responsible Consumption and Production in Developing Economies for SDG 12 Achievement," MPRA Paper 118214, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 25 Jul 2023.
    4. Maria-Jesus Agost & Margarita Vergara, 2020. "Principles of Affective Design in Consumers’ Response to Sustainability Design Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-21, December.
    5. Olga Lingaitienė & Aurelija Burinskienė & Vida Davidavičienė, 2022. "Case Study of Municipal Waste and Its Reliance on Reverse Logistics in European Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-24, February.
    6. Jonathan Asher Morashti & Youra An & Hyunmi Jang, 2022. "A Systematic Literature Review of Sustainable Packaging in Supply Chain Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-22, April.
    7. Yi He & Qianqian Xu & Da Zhao, 2020. "Impacts of the BOPS Option on Sustainable Retailing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-16, October.
    8. Gizem Yener & Arzu Secer & Pascal L. Ghazalian, 2023. "What Factors Influence Consumers to Buy Green Products? An Analysis through the Motivation–Opportunity–Ability Framework and Consumer Awareness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-15, September.
    9. Abdulaziz I. Almulhim & Ismaila Rimi Abubakar, 2021. "Understanding Public Environmental Awareness and Attitudes toward Circular Economy Transition in Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-15, September.
    10. Konstantinos I. Roumeliotis & Nikolaos D. Tselikas & Dimitrios K. Nasiopoulos, 2023. "Unveiling Sustainability in Ecommerce: GPT-Powered Software for Identifying Sustainable Product Features," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-26, August.
    11. Iva Jestratijevic & Urška Vrabič-Brodnjak, 2022. "Sustainable and Innovative Packaging Solutions in the Fashion Industry: Global Report," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-14, October.
    12. Andreas Niedermeier & Agnes Emberger‐Klein & Klaus Menrad, 2021. "Which factors distinguish the different consumer segments of green fast‐moving consumer goods in Germany?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 1823-1838, May.
    13. Ihwan Ghazali & Salwa Hanim Abdul-Rashid & Siti Zawiah Md Dawal & Nurul Huda & Amir Husni Mohd Shariff & Safarudin Gazali Herawan & Fu Haw Ho & Novita Sakundarini, 2021. "Guidelines for Designing Green Products Considering Customers’ Cultural Preferences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-27, January.
    14. Zhicheng Zeng & Wenjun Zhong & Shumaila Naz, 2023. "Can Environmental Knowledge and Risk Perception Make a Difference? The Role of Environmental Concern and Pro-Environmental Behavior in Fostering Sustainable Consumption Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-23, March.
    15. Giovanni Mattia & Alessio Di Leo & Carlo Alberto Pratesi, 2021. "Recognizing the Key Drivers and Industry Implications of Sustainable Packaging Design: A Mixed-Method Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-18, May.
    16. Brigitta Plasek & Zoltán Lakner & Katalin Badak-Kerti & Anikó Kovács & Ágoston Temesi, 2021. "Perceived Consequences: General or Specific? The Case of Palm Oil-Free Products," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-16, March.
    17. Virimai Victor Mugobo & Herbert Ntuli & Chux Gervase Iwu, 2022. "Consumer Perceptions of the Use of Nondegradable Plastic Packaging and Environmental Pollution: A Review of Theories and Empirical Literature," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-17, May.
    18. Jiacheng Wu & Han Cui & Naim Dahnoun, 2023. "A Voxelization Algorithm for Reconstructing mmWave Radar Point Cloud and an Application on Posture Classification for Low Energy Consumption Platform," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-13, February.
    19. Micaela Pinho & Sofia Gomes, 2023. "What Role Does Sustainable Behavior and Environmental Awareness from Civil Society Play in the Planet’s Sustainable Transition," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-17, March.
    20. Jui-Che Tu & Ting-Yun Lo & Yi-Jing Sie & Tsai-Feng Kao, 2021. "Key Factors for Involvement Degree and Perceived Value in Consumers’ Purchase Intention in Unpacked Stores," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-16, November.
    21. Shaorong Ji & Pang-Soong Lin, 2022. "Aesthetics of Sustainability: Research on the Design Strategies for Emotionally Durable Visual Communication Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-23, April.
    22. Monika Stoma & Agnieszka Dudziak, 2022. "Eastern Poland Consumer Awareness of Innovative Active and Intelligent Packaging in the Food Industry: Exploratory Studies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-19, October.
    23. Cherry C. I. Lau & Christina W. Y. Wong, 2024. "Achieving sustainable development with sustainable packaging: A natural‐resource‐based view perspective," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5), pages 4766-4787, July.
    24. Bogdan Włodarczyk & Waldemar Cudny, 2022. "Individual Low-Cost Travel as a Route to Tourism Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-21, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Elisa Monnot & Fanny Reniou & Béatrice Parguel & Leila Elgaaied-Gambier, 2019. "“Thinking Outside the Packaging Box”: Should Brands Consider Store Shelf Context When Eliminating Overpackaging?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 154(2), pages 355-370, January.
    2. Martinez-Carrasco Martínez, Laura & Brugarolas Mollá-Bauzá, Margarita & Gascón Mora,Andrea, 2020. "A consumer behaviour approach to analyse the sustainability of food purchasing," Economia Agraria y Recursos Naturales, Spanish Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 20(02), December.
    3. Yokessa, Maïmouna & Marette, Stéphan, 2019. "A Review of Eco-labels and their Economic Impact," International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics, now publishers, vol. 13(1-2), pages 119-163, April.
    4. Feucht, Yvonne & Zander, Katrin, 2017. "Consumers’ attitudes on carbon footprint labelling. Results of the SUSDIET project," Thünen Working Paper 266396, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut (vTI), Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries.
    5. Elgaaied-Gambier, Leila & Monnot, Elisa & Reniou, Fanny, 2018. "Using descriptive norm appeals effectively to promote green behavior," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 179-191.
    6. Van Asselt, Joanna & Nian, Yefan & Soh, Moonwon & Morgan, Stephen & Gao, Zhifeng, 2022. "Do plastic warning labels reduce consumers' willingness to pay for plastic egg packaging? – Evidence from a choice experiment," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    7. Maksymilian Czeczotko & Hanna Górska-Warsewicz & Wacław Laskowski & Barbara Rostecka, 2021. "Towards Sustainable Private Labels in an Autonomous Community during COVID-19—Analysis of Consumer Behavior and Perception on the Example of Tenerife," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-22, July.
    8. Maksymilian Czeczotko & Hanna Górska-Warsewicz & Robert Zaremba, 2022. "Health and Non-Health Determinants of Consumer Behavior toward Private Label Products—A Systematic Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-36, February.
    9. Ahsan Siraj & Shilpa Taneja & Yongming Zhu & Hongbing Jiang & Sunil Luthra & Anil Kumar, 2022. "Hey, did you see that label? It's sustainable!: Understanding the role of sustainable labelling in shaping sustainable purchase behaviour for sustainable development," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(7), pages 2820-2838, November.
    10. Shahnaj Akter & Shahjahan Ali & Mária Fekete-Farkas & Csaba Fogarassy & Zoltán Lakner, 2023. "Why Organic Food? Factors Influence the Organic Food Purchase Intension in an Emerging Country (Study from Northern Part of Bangladesh)," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-19, January.
    11. Birkenberg, A., 2018. "Carbon neutral global value chains: demand or desire? - Consumers willingness to pay for a carbon neutrality label on specialty coffee in Germany," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 277277, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    12. Apostolidis, Chrysostomos & McLeay, Fraser, 2016. "Should we stop meating like this? Reducing meat consumption through substitution," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 74-89.
    13. Panzone, Luca A. & Lemke, Fred & Petersen, Henry L., 2016. "Biases in consumers' assessment of environmental damage in food chains and how investments in reputation can help," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 327-337.
    14. Kinga Emese ZSIDÓ & Daniela ?TEFANESCU, 2017. "Sustainability And Performance In Trade Sector," Contemporary Economy Journal, Constantin Brancoveanu University, vol. 2(3), pages 228-238.
    15. Korhonen, J. & Koskivaara, A. & Toppinen, A., 2020. "Riding a Trojan horse? Future pathways of the fiber-based packaging industry in the bioeconomy," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    16. Isabel Carrero & Carmen Valor & Estela Díaz & Victoria Labajo, 2021. "Designed to Be Noticed: A Reconceptualization of Carbon Food Labels as Warning Labels," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-14, February.
    17. Van Loo, Ellen J. & Hoefkens, Christine & Verbeke, Wim, 2017. "Healthy, sustainable and plant-based eating: Perceived (mis)match and involvement-based consumer segments as targets for future policy," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 46-57.
    18. Claudia Arias & Carlos A. Trujillo, 2020. "Perceived Consumer Effectiveness as A Trigger of Behavioral Spillover Effects: A path towards Recycling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-17, May.
    19. Korey Fennell & Jack Fehlberg & Sukhdeep Singh & Laurent M. Matuana & Sungeun Cho & Eva Almenar, 2024. "Consumers’ Behavior toward Packaging Containing Agricultural Waste as a Plastic Filler for Food: An Exploratory Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-22, January.
    20. Giovanna Piracci & Emilia Lamonaca & Fabio Gaetano Santeramo & Fabio Boncinelli & Leonardo Casini, 2024. "On the willingness to pay for food sustainability labelling: A meta‐analysis," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 55(2), pages 329-345, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:6:p:2192-:d:331538. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.