Flexible Packaging: Buying Into Sustainability

Published: December 23, 2019

Consumers are conscious about packaging sustainability and showing their appreciation of sustainable packaging at the checkout counter

The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) created an infographic that helps to summarize the FPA sustainability report, Perspectives on the Meaning of Sustainability in Flexible Packaging. The report explores how flexible packaging lends itself to brand owners’ ability to establish a reputation for environmental stewardship. FPA conducted a 2018 Sustainability Study to better understand perspectives on sustainability and packaging among both consumers and brand owners. The study integrates insights from brand owners surveyed online in June 2018 by Packaging World and insights from an online survey of U.S. consumers conducted by The Harris Poll in July 2018.

The survey results indicate that 83 percent of consumers say they understand the meaning of sustainability; 65 percent of consumers think sustainability is at least a very important attribute of packaging for products sold both in-store and online; and 86 percent of consumers care about sustainability in general.

Sustainable packaging matters to consumers. Eighty-two percent of consumers say they care about the sustainability aspects of packaging; 79 percent of consumers say they prefer products that are in sustainable packaging over ones that are not; and 72 percent of consumers say they trust labels that include sustainability benefits on product packaging.

Younger generations are more likely to believe that flexible packaging is sustainable, and this opens the door for the “Millennial Opportunity.” Millennials say it’s extremely important or absolutely essential that product packaging has a sustainable lifecycle (33 percent); is manufactured with less energy (33 percent); and has been transported efficiently (32 percent). According to survey responses, 36 percent of millennials say they always or often actively seek out products in sustainable packaging; 37 percent promote the benefits of sustainable packaging to others; and 37 percent check packaging labels for sustainability information.

For More Information

For more information on the FPA and the sustainability benefits of flexible packaging, contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 410-694-0800, or visit our website, www.flexpack.org or www.perfectpackaging.org.