Survey: 60 per cent of citizens in favour of more reusable packaging

Almost a quarter of respondents welcome composting as a way to dispose of packaging. Fifteen per cent also favour incineration for the purpose of energy generation. Only two percent favour landfilling or burial on land.

More than 60 per cent support the policy plans for more reusable packaging and are prepared to take action to achieve this. Around 20 per cent do not want any more reusable packaging or do not want to or cannot comment on this at the moment.

For DVI Managing Director Kim Cheng, the result shows that "the majority of citizens support circular economy, recycling and the preservation of valuable secondary raw materials when dealing with used packaging. The high approval rate for reusable and refillable packaging is not a contradiction. After all, reusable packaging should also be recycled at the end of its life cycle and become new packaging."

The most important requirements for the use of reusable packaging include flexible return regardless of the place of purchase (72 per cent), price stability (64 per cent) and problem-free return (50 per cent). In addition, almost 36 percent demand that the used packaging does not have to be cleaned or rinsed before being returned.

Apparently, there is little knowledge among the population about the environmental impact of the product or the packaging. About half of the respondents believe that the packaging has a larger environmental footprint than the packaged product. Only 29 percent judge the ratio correctly. One in five cannot judge the question according to their own assessment. According to Cheng, the survey shows a fatal knowledge gap. Many people massively underestimate the environmental impact of the product and massively overestimate the impact of the packaging. The real ecological damage occurs primarily when the food is damaged or spoils.