SUPPLY CHAIN SUSTAINABILITY

• In-store waste: A third( 33 %) of consumers have noticed better options to reduce waste at the checkout, including options for paperless receipts and the removal of plastic bags.

• Stuffing material: Half of consumers regard polystyrene as a last resort for stuffing material, with one in five going as far as to say they won’ t buy from a company using the material.

• Intelligent packaging: Threequarters of consumers are interested in packaging built with sensors to ensure the product remains in optimal condition or temperature – otherwise known as intelligent packaging. In fact, 28 % say they are willing to pay up to US $ 5 more for an intelligent package.

Cheryl Holliday, Director of Marketing at DS Smith in North America, summarises the significance of the findings:“ It’ s clear from the survey that US consumers are not only concerned about the sustainability of their packages, but they are also willing to do their part and pay more for a better solution.

“ We’ re encouraged by the importance retailers and consumers are putting on sustainable packaging and believe the solutions exist to help manufacturers and retailers meet these expectations.”

Plastic remains prevalent Listening to consumers’ feedback is one thing; responding and taking meaningful action is another matter altogether.

Proportion of food and drink items on UK shelves containing plastic( Materials Change Index)

The inaugural Material Change Index, published in late 2024, analysed packaging materials in 25 of the most popular supermarkets across six European markets: the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland. It demonstrated that the UK was the nation most reliant on plastic packaging, with a concerning 70 % of all food and drink items on British shelves containing plastic.

94 June 2025