Analyzing Consumer Perspectives on Food Packaging | the Positive, Negative, and Unappealing

Different Food Packaging Factors Affecting Consumer Perspectives 

Convenience 

Would you not prefer a food package with resealable closures? Because they help keep foods fresh while you’re on the go. That’s one way of adding convenience to packaging. Weight is another factor. Lightweight packaging not only counts as one of the positive aspects but also saves companies a lot on shipping costs. Some other deciding factors could include the shape of the packaging, flexibility, ease of product dispensing, and serving portions.  

Eco-friendliness 

Nearly 69% of customers can g o for a premium price if the product is made up of sustainable material. This is a clear boost for brands to adopt eco-friendliness in packaging. The two biggest positive aspects of eco-friendly packages are they are non-toxic and allergy-free. That’s why customers with pets and toddlers feel safe with such packaging. Plus, eco-friendly materials are the biggest boost towards reducing the carbon footprint (greenhouse gases) in the atmosphere. Environment-conscious customers also know that this strategy can help them reduce toxic emissions by up to 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2030, as per the Paris Agreement.  

Unclear labelling 

If a product’s packaging is confusing, it can negatively influence the pacakging perceptions of customers. For instance, jumbled texts and tiny symbols drastically reduce customer engagement. It would be difficult to identify ingredients, understand nutritional information, and figure out portion size. That may also create a lack of trust and induce decision paralysis in customers. This is the reason brands highlight essential information in simple language designed with bold, readable font sizes. For instance, brands like Nature Valley, Honest Tea, and Ben & Jerry simplify their packaging language with icons, bold fonts, and relatable potion size indicators.  

Overuse of plastic 

Despite so many environmental concerns, nearly 141 million tonnes of plastic packaging are generated every year. Surprisingly, 50% of those plastics are used only once. As a result, such packagings contribute to 1.8 billion tonnes of carbon emissions per annum. In this regard, customers are getting quite serious about reducing plastic usage to save the planet. As per a survey, around 87% of consumers expressed they would like online retailers to minimize the quantity of plastic in the packaging they use.