Single Use Packaging: Behavioural Insights Research

Photo by Yusuf Habibi on Unsplash Behavioural insight is a foundation of the EPA’s Circular Economy Programme, providing evidence to inform policy, behavioural change interventions and awareness campaigns. 

Single-use packaging is a significant contributor to waste generation and resource consumption. Understanding consumer attitudes and behaviours relating to packaging choices for fruit and vegetables can help identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary packaging, support waste prevention and encourage more sustainable purchasing habits.

The EPA contracted Ipsos B&A to carry out this quantitative research to assess usage and attitudes around single use packaging for fruit and vegetables. For this project, three packaging types were considered: pre-packaged items; loose items placed in a plastic or paper bag; and loose items placed in a shopping basket. The fieldwork for the online survey of a nationally representative sample of 1,016 adults ages 16+ was carried out in March 2024. 

Click on the heading below to view the full report:

Single Use Packaging for Fruit and Veg national survey 2024