Packaging Attitudes (Cont’d from Page 3)
than about other factors, but this is highly de- pendent on geodemographics As in our 2020 survey, when McKinsey & Com- pany asked consumers about the most important factors influencing their purchasing behavior of the products they buy, they ranked environmental as- pects among their lowest priorities. Instead, price, quality, and convenience are the most important buying criteria for U.S. consumers when purchas- ing a product. This is not surprising given that more than two-thirds of consumers say inflation is their top concern, especially with regard to high prices for necessities such as food. Interestingly, however, the importance of environmental considerations as a key buying factor varies depending on age group and locality. In fact, 37 and 39 percent of Gen Z and millennial consumers, respectively, and 40 percent of those living in urban neighborhoods cited envi- ronmental impact as an extremely or very import- ant factor when making their purchasing decisions. By contrast, only 18 percent of baby boomers and 21 percent of consumers living in rural areas stated the same. 2. In packaging, U.S. consumers are most con- cerned about hygiene, food safety, and shelf life Looking more deeply into what U.S. consumers
outgrowing their peers. However, there is no uni- versal solution. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, McKinsey & Company conducted a global survey across ten countries to research consum- ers’ views on sustainable packaging. Since then, significant further disruptions have occurred, such as economic uncertainty—including the highest in- flation in decades—the war in Ukraine, an energy crisis, and volatility in financial markets. Surveys have shown that consumers are worried and jittery as these pressures sap their confidence. With such challenging new realities in their daily lives, how have consumers’ attitudes toward sustainable pack- aging changed? To answer this question, McKinsey & Company launched a comprehensive survey in the first quarter of 2023 across 11 countries around the world to explore consumer sentiments toward sustainable packaging. This was complemented by interviews with executives at retailers, fast-mov- ing-consumer-goods companies, and packaging or- ganizations in major end-user markets and across the main packaging substrates. 1. In general, consumers are less concerned about the environmental impact of products
(Cont’d on Page 7)
LEARN MORE
August 28, 2023 5
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online