Packaging, Italians best prepared in Europe in cardboard recycling

In Italy, the concept of sustainability is not just something abstract. This is borne out by research by Pro Carton, the European Association of Cartonboard and Carton Manufacturers: the report compared the attitudes of over 5,000 consumers towards the environment and packaging in relation to economic trends and international geopolitical dynamics. The research covered Italy, the UK, France, Germany and Spain.

What emerges is a strong environmental awareness and a desire for concrete action: when it comes to slowing climate change, 8 out of 10 Italians believe that recycling more is the best way, followed by those who suggest using more recyclable materials and those who think it is important to plant more trees.

The degree of preparedness is high. As many as 87% of Italians feel confident in knowing which types of packaging can be recycled and which cannot. Italian consumers are the most prepared in Europe, declaring that they feel most confident about recycling materials such as corrugated cardboard (89%), paper and cardboard (86%) and glass (86%). This is the first time that paper and cardboard achieves higher percentages than glass. Plastic products and packaging are less secure.

The preference for biodegradable materials is clear: 80% of Italians prefer brands to develop biodegradable cardboard packaging that will be recycled, compared to 20% who prefer reusable plastic packaging.

Attention to the environment also comes up when buying a product: when consumers decide to buy something, according to the Pro Carton report, they check in most cases (71%) for ease of recycling. More than half (54%) also check the use of recyclable materials in the packaging and whether the packaging is resealable. If the same product were packaged in two different types of packaging, one in plastic and the other in cardboard or cardboard, 92% of Italians would choose fibre materials. Italians show the greatest preference for sustainable cardboard packaging.