PRO Carton is marking the upcoming Recycle Week by highlighting the ‘vital’ role of fibre-based packaging in creating a more sustainable UK.
With the world focused on reducing waste, the packaging industry has a chance to take the lead, and materials like paper and cartonboard are key to this effort, the organisation said.
A recent Pro Carton survey showed 86% of UK consumers feel confident in identifying recyclable packaging. This translates to strong trust in the recyclability of materials like corrugated cardboard (91% confidence) and cartonboard (86% confidence), which demonstrates support for existing collection and recycling systems and highlights the eco-friendly nature of these materials.
Pro Carton added that we ‘urgently’ need to improve how we separate packaging waste in the UK. Countries like Germany and Switzerland are leading the way, with strict separation of fibre-based materials like cardboard and newspapers/magazines.
The survey also revealed consumers are willing to pay an average of 5.7% more for sustainably packaged products. This willingness to invest in eco-friendly options proves that consumer demand for sustainable packaging is here to stay, Pro Carton added.
