According to a recent study by DS Smith and consumer research institute Retail Economics, almost half of the food packaging in German supermarkets consists of avoidable plastic. But changing the packaging is proving difficult: despite growing awareness, industry efforts to shift towards sustainable solutions are hindered by competitive concerns and consumer behaviour.
Key barriers include the cost of raw materials, which 40% of respondents cited as the primary hurdle. Consumer acceptance poses another challenge: 39% of industry experts are concerned that customers may resist changes to packaging.
The study reviewed 1,500 food and beverage packaging samples across major supermarkets in Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and Spain, finding that a substantial portion of packaging could be replaced or eliminated to significantly reduce plastic waste.
European plastic consumption remains considerable, with the UK topping the list at
70% of food packaging comprising plastic, followed by Spain (67%), Germany and Italy (66%), Poland (62%), and France (59%).