ALMOST one in five (19%) consumers have said they would not buy from online retailers who do not use sustainable packaging.
The findings came in Macfarlane Packaging’s sixth annual unboxing survey of UK consumers.
Over 600 people took part, with the survey also revealing that 88% of respondents spent more time shopping online during the pandemic. Further to this, 64% said that they are unlikely to move away from online shopping in the future – with a further 30% saying they may well spend more time buying online.
A whopping 97% said they following recycling instructions where possible. However, 14% advised they were unsure about the recyclability of the packaging they receive due to no instructions regarding disposal.
Other highlights of the survey include:
- Delivery: 96% of respondents said they favoured home delivery over click and collect, with 55% selecting home delivery for convenience, and 40% taking advantage of free delivery.
- Sustainability: 73% of respondents thought that the packaging they received was recyclable.
- Packaging branding: There was an increase in deliveries with unbranded packaging, growing from 32% in 2020 to 45% in 2021, suggesting that an increasing number of online retailers are missing the opportunity to connect with customers through an immersive unboxing experience that represents their brand.
- Damages: There was a slight increase in the percentage of damaged deliveries, increasing from 5% in 2020 to 9% in 2021.
Laurel Granville, marketing director at Macfarlane Packaging, said, “The past 18 months have changed the way we shop. Responses to this year’s survey are a clear indication that online shopping is fast becoming the norm and consumers are demanding more sustainable packaging.
“Our team at Macfarlane Packaging are working hard with our customers to help them achieve sustainably sound solutions to their packaging needs and we hope that this year’s feedback is of benefit to retailers who can see what consumers are demanding.”
