Household attitudes towards reusable packaging

Attached is the draft copy of the university's latest study on household attitudes towards reusable packaging. While this paper is still under revision, I thought I would share it with a broader audience to solicit feedback and commentary.

Draft Study

Below is a brief Executive Summary of the Findings:

This report provides an in-depth analysis of a recent survey assessing consumer perspectives on reusable packaging. The bi-national study of 950 adults aimed to gauge current adoption, motivations, barriers, and overall support for reusables.

Key findings reveal:

• Moderate adoption exists, with 54% of households actively using some reusables. But 25% report little usage, indicating gaps between positive attitudes and committed reusable purchasing.
• Convenience perceptions are a major barrier. 37% still find reusables less convenient than disposables. Cleaning requirements and lack of storage space were also cited by 42% and 47% respectively as nuisance factors.
• Availability issues persist, with 58% unable to consistently purchase reusables. 61% cannot find options across stores and categories. 67% felt reusables have prohibitively high upfront costs despite long-term savings.
• Infrastructure is inadequate per 58%, lacking robust reuse systems and collection networks locally. Just 17% feel their community has sufficient reusable packaging infrastructure.
• Strong environmental motivations exist, with 73% agreeing reusables are superior environmentally and 88% calling them the responsible choice. Most recognize tangibly reduced waste and resources used.
• Consumers want bold industry and policy leadership, with 79% asking brands to switch to reusables where feasible. 67% support selective single-use plastic bans to drive change.
• Cautious optimism exists on reusables reaching mainstream ubiquity eventually, but 38% remain skeptical of systemic change away from disposable norms.

In summary, promising demand exists but key hurdles around pricing, convenience perceptions, infrastructure gaps, and availability issues must be actively tackled to translate interest into mass adoption. Retailers should expand offerings, brands demonstrate leadership through pilots, policymakers enact thoughtful incentives and restrictions, and messaging clearly communicate lifestyle benefits of reusables. With smart coordinated strategies, consumer appetite can be leveraged to disrupt the current paradigm of disposable packaging.