Paper over plastic for South Africans

The farming industry is encouraged to choose paper packaging for its environment-friendly benefits

- Jyothi Laldas

Whether its paperboard punnets for mushrooms or cardboard boxes for apples, South Africans are leaning toward paper packaging for its environment-friendliness, among other benefits.

This was according to the Paper Manufacturers’ Association of South Africa (PAMSA), which enlisted South Africa as one of the 16 countries that participated in this year’s global ‘Trend Tracker Survey’.

The biennial consumer research study sought to understand consumer perceptions towards print and paper products, looking specifically at environmental awareness, reading habits and packaging preferences.

Samantha Choles, communications manager for PAMSA, said the shift to online shopping had accelerated dramatically in recent years.

“Consumers have come to appreciate the safety, speed and convenience of buying products online. However, many are increasingly concerned about how their goods are packaged and delivered, and how easy it is to recycle materials used,” said Choles.

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More than 10 000 consumers participated in the survey, answering questions on their preferences and opinions regarding packaging types, their attributes and their impact.