2025-11-04
Since 2020, both consumers and businesses have experienced significant disruption — and the packaging industry is no exception. The global pandemic reshaped consumption patterns, while inflation and geopolitical uncertainty continue to affect trade flows and international supply chains. Against this backdrop, how have these forces changed consumer attitudes toward packaging?
To answer this, McKinsey & Company launched a new round of global research in the first quarter of this year to better understand consumer perceptions of packaging. Since 2020, McKinsey has continuously studied global packaging trends, surveying more than 11,000 respondents across 11 countries on four continents. These regions represent about 66% of global GDP and 50% of the world’s population.
The research identified five major findings — two focused on what consumers value most when purchasing products and considering packaging, and three exploring attitudes toward sustainability.
1. Price and quality remain top priorities.
Price sensitivity has risen compared with previous years, driven by inflation concerns. While environmental impact dropped in importance overall, it remains more influential in certain regions, particularly in Europe.
2. Food safety and shelf life dominate packaging concerns.
Consumers continue to see safety and preservation as the most important packaging attributes, while environmental impact ranks lower. This does not mean consumers care less about the environment; rather, their focus has shifted temporarily toward value and reliability.
3. Recyclability defines sustainable packaging.
Most respondents agree that recyclable paper packaging remains the most critical attribute of sustainability, though opinions differ on secondary factors.
4. Perceptions of sustainable materials vary by country.
Across all regions, glass and paper are perceived as the most sustainable packaging materials. However, views differ on plastics: in countries with advanced recycling systems such as Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland, PET bottles are considered relatively sustainable.
5. Consumers remain willing to pay more for sustainable packaging.
Although overall enthusiasm for sustainability messaging has declined, a majority of respondents still express a willingness to pay a premium for eco-friendly or biodegradable packaging.
Today, price and quality continue to be the most influential factors shaping purchasing behavior. The heightened emphasis on cost likely stems from inflationary pressure, even though the link between sentiment and actual spending is showing signs of softening.
Environmental considerations vary by product category and region. For example, fresh produce and household cleaning products often receive higher sustainability attention, while European consumers tend to prioritize eco-conscious choices more strongly than others.
In the food sector, food safety and shelf life remain essential packaging concerns, which makes food-grade paper packaging a critical factor in ensuring consumer confidence and product protection.
As a global paper packaging supplier, China Paper closely follows changes in consumer behavior and sustainable packaging trends. We believe sustainability should never compromise quality or safety.
Our research and production adhere to a dual standard: complying with international food safety regulations while meeting multiple environmental certification requirements.
Our main product lines — including food-grade straw wrapping paper, cup base paper, and kraft packaging paper — deliver the ideal combination of safety, performance, and eco-friendliness. These products enable our clients to achieve both sustainable packaging goals and market competitiveness.
For China Paper, packaging is more than a product — it represents a commitment to environmental responsibility and a sustainable future.
We remain dedicated to providing high-quality, recyclable, and biodegradable paper packaging solutions, helping our global partners achieve a balance between business growth and sustainability.
Sustainable packaging begins with the right material — and that is where China Paper makes a lasting difference.
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