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Food packaging waste is a valuable resource for material recovery, if it is properly separated and sorted by consumers. The packaging itself may have the potential to assist consumer sorting by, for example, communicating a correct sorting practice. This is partly due to the fact that the sorting of packaging waste, which is a habitual behavior of consumers, can be perceived as being confusing and inconvenient. Consumers can, therefore, choose not to sort. It is argued that material recovery could be enhanced if packaging can afford easy and proper sorting and separation. To investigate the potential of packaging to support proper sorting, six types of yogurt and cream packaging were examined across 15 households in Karlskrona (a medium-sized Swedish city). The aim is to investigate the effect of selected packaging attributes on consumer decisions regarding waste sorting. The results reveal that some of the selected packaging waste is not properly separated and sorted. It is concluded that the design of food packaging based on user-centered needs could affect consumer decisions for the proper sorting of packaging waste, which enables improved material recovery. The design should focus especially on the package’s visual attributes, the material selection, and the package´s waste sorting related functions.
Babak Nemat; Mohammad Razzaghi; Kim Bolton; Kamran Rousta. The Potential of Food Packaging Attributes to Influence Consumers’ Decisions to Sort Waste. Sustainability 2020, 12, 2234 .
AMA StyleBabak Nemat, Mohammad Razzaghi, Kim Bolton, Kamran Rousta. The Potential of Food Packaging Attributes to Influence Consumers’ Decisions to Sort Waste. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (6):2234.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBabak Nemat; Mohammad Razzaghi; Kim Bolton; Kamran Rousta. 2020. "The Potential of Food Packaging Attributes to Influence Consumers’ Decisions to Sort Waste." Sustainability 12, no. 6: 2234.
Household waste sorting at the source is an essential part of the waste management system in many countries. Correct sorting of this waste, including food packaging waste, is cost-effective, it facilitates the recycling process and enhances the quality of the recycled product. Although there is a growing body of research that studies the effect of different attributes of food packaging on household recycling behavior, the effect of these attributes on the sorting of the food packaging waste is not well known. This contribution reviews work that studies the relationship between attributes of food packaging and consumer sorting behavior. The review highlights the potential of the visual attributes and the quality of packaging as a communication channel for encouraging consumers to sort the food packaging waste. The efficiency of the waste management system and the quality of recycled products can hence be affected by the proper design of food packaging.
Babak Nemat; Mohammad Razzaghi; Kim Bolton; Kamran Rousta. The Role of Food Packaging Design in Consumer Recycling Behavior—A Literature Review. Sustainability 2019, 11, 4350 .
AMA StyleBabak Nemat, Mohammad Razzaghi, Kim Bolton, Kamran Rousta. The Role of Food Packaging Design in Consumer Recycling Behavior—A Literature Review. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (16):4350.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBabak Nemat; Mohammad Razzaghi; Kim Bolton; Kamran Rousta. 2019. "The Role of Food Packaging Design in Consumer Recycling Behavior—A Literature Review." Sustainability 11, no. 16: 4350.