DS Smith finds sustainability remains consumer priority

The U.S. office of DS Smith, a London-based paperboard and packaging maker now owned by Memphis, Tennessee-based based International Paper, says a survey of more than 1,000 Americans shows consumers want retail brands to clearly communicate their sustainability success and are paying attention to how retailers are cutting out waste in stores and in e-commerce.

DS Smith says results of its “Unboxing Consumer Preferences on Sustainable Packaging” of nearly 1,050 adult respondents demonstrate that sustainability is the single most important attribute of a shipping package.

“It is clear from the Unboxing Consumer Preferences survey that U.S. consumers are not only concerned about the sustainability of their packages, but they are also willing to do their part and pay more for a better solution,” says Cheryl Holliday of DS Smith North America.

“DS Smith is encouraged by the importance retailers and consumers are putting on sustainable packaging and believes the solutions exist to help manufacturers and retailers meet these expectations."

Factors considered by the survey include material choices, the compactness of packaging styles and how technology can improve delivery techniques.

DS Smith found that 50 percent of consumers see expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam as “a last resort” for interior packing material, and one out of five respondents won’t buy from a company that uses the material.

The survey results also demonstrate that 46 percent of consumers say empty space in a box bothers them and 75 percent of those same respondents indicated empty space shows “the brand doesn’t prioritize sustainability.”

The paperboard packaging firm says its survey showed broad support for “intelligent packaging” options that include sensors to ensure a product remains at an optimal temperature or otherwise in top condition. According to the firm, 75 percent of respondents like the idea, with 28 percent saying they are willing to pay up to $5 more for such packaging.

DS Smith says its Circular Design Principles help customers embrace circularity, in part by designing 100 percent recyclable or reusable packaging and minimizing the use of plastics.