Courtesy Ryan McVay / Photodisc / Thinkstock

According to a sketch , less people think consumer should be responsible for reuse mathematical product packaging .

In the just - completed wave of shopper research on environmentally favorable packaging lead by Perception Research Services , 38 pct of shopper agree that consumers should be responsible for recycle promotion , down from 42 per centum in 2009 , with Midwest shoppers show the least dip ( only 30 percent ) .

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While more shopper expect environmentally friendly promotion to cost more ( 36 percent versus 15 percentage in 2008 ) , fewer report a willingness to make up for it , and 59 percent say that environmentally friendly publicity should be at no additional price to the consumer .

Ironically , while few shoppers indicated they would like to prefer more environmentally favorable promotion ( 28 percent ) , closely half think manufacturer should produce more of it ; and fully one - third think government should mandate strict environmental standards for packaging .

shopper ’ reliance on manufacturer ’ effort may derive from an knowingness of the steps that have been taken : one-half of the shopper polled indicated they noticed company ’ claim about environmentally friendly packaging . And of those , half noticed more of these claims in the retiring six month .

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Fortunately for producer , these shoppers feel their motive to make environmentally friendly packaging are primarily virtuous . More than half say company are making these sweat for reasons having to do with reducing waste material , carry through resources and make the world a better spot . Very few attribute these actions to self - serving sake , such as selling more Cartesian product or increasing profits . And few think companies overstate the environmental benefits of their publicity .

Shoppers ’ reported behavior radiation pattern also suggest that they want someone else to do the study in this area , as nigh half ( 48 percent ) say that check a “ made from recycled material ” claim makes them more interested in buy the ware , a significant increase from 39 percent in 2009 . This more inactive action contrasts with the fact that very few ( only 17 percent ) say they check to see if a bundle is reusable before buying a product . And , fully one - third account that they generally do not reuse packaging , reproducible with the 2008 level .

“ It ’s becoming well-defined that while consumers may voice concern for the surroundings , most seem unwilling — at the moment — to make any major sacrifices to make a divergence , ” say Jonathan Asher , senior vice president of PRS . “ They ’d rather bank on manufacturers to ply products and packaging that they can feel good about , without changing their behaviour , giving up performance or paying more . ”

“ maker have had the impression that they needed to be in sync with consumer ’ environmental concern and fit with the emerging lifestyle of going green , ” Asher continues . “ Our finding intimate that rather than pursue consumers ’ lead , manufacturers must be at the head , pee-pee it easier for shopper to buy the products they choose while also feeling good about the environmental impingement and make as little forfeiture as possible . It ’s a tall rules of order , but if fork up , will be highly repay . ”

The three waves of this research were conducted in 2008 , 2009 and 2010 , across the U.S. , among more 1,000 basal menage grocery shoppers ages 18 to 64 per wave .

Check out Urban Farm reader ’ thoughts abouteco - friendly promotion .