FALLS CHURCH, Va., May 30, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- As the spotlight on single-use foodservice packaging continues to grow, the Foodservice Packaging Institute sought to better understand the general consumer's use and perception of these items. To discover those consumer perceptions and provide feedback to its members, FPI commissioned a third-party to conduct a survey to find out how frequently people use single-use packaging and their perceptions and behavior choices related to foodservice packaging.
Participants were asked questions about how frequently they use single-use foodservice packaging; their beliefs about the importance of performance attributes in single-use foodservice packaging; benefits and concerns they have about single-use foodservice packaging and their reusable counterparts; their behavior choices related to foodservice packaging; and environmental issues. Each question was analyzed looking for significant differences in responses across different demographic groups and frequency of using single-use foodservice packaging.
"As we represent the needs of our members, it became apparent that we had to find out what consumers truly think about foodservice packaging. Undertaking this survey assists not only our members, but our industry as a whole, allowing an inside glimpse into the thoughts of consumers and ultimately providing valuable feedback to ensure our industry continues to create the right products," said Lynn Dyer, president of the Foodservice Packaging Institute.
Based on the results, there are significant differences in perceptions of foodservice packaging based on the frequency of use. Within U.S. respondents, those with the highest income are most likely to use single-use foodservice packaging every day and higher education appears to correlate to higher use. For Canada respondents, the only factor where perceptions differed is frequency of use.
When given a list of seven performance attributes for single-use packaging items, respondents were asked to rate the importance of each attribute. Results show that the most important attributes for single-use packaging for both U.S. and Canadian respondents are the item's ability to prevent leaks / spills and stopping oil and grease stains.
"What we found is that when people are given a list of attributes of their foodservice packaging, it comes down to the basics. Consumers want products that are going to allow them to enjoy their foods and beverages on-the-go without worrying about spills or leaks," said Dyer.
The survey included input from 800 respondents in the United States and Canada balanced across income, education level, gender and region. This sample provided a statistically representative view of the beliefs of these populations with a 95 percent confidence rate with a plus / minus 5 percent margin of error.
FPI members received complete survey results. A complimentary executive summary of the report is available on FPI's website.
About FPI: Founded in 1933, the Foodservice Packaging Institute is the trade association for the foodservice packaging industry in North America. FPI promotes the value and benefits of foodservice packaging and serves as the industry's leading authority to educate and influence stakeholders. Members include raw material and machinery suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and purchasers of foodservice packaging. For more information or to follow us on social media, visit http://www.FPI.org.
SOURCE Foodservice Packaging Institute
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