Hugo Neu Corporation Sustainability Seminar Series: Sustainable Packaging: Are Consumers Buying It?

ABSTRACT

Since 2018, almost all Consumer Packaging Goods (CPG) companies have announced goals to make their packaging more sustainable. Many media reports suggest that consumers are the driving force and are demanding more sustainable products and packaging. This presentation shows that brand owners are introducing new types of packaging, particularly paper replacing plastic, and that consumer interest in sustainability is increasing. Consumers do respond positively to ‘eco-claims’ but many are confused by all the choices and are not really sure when what sustainable packaging really is.

This presentation covers the following topics:

Brand owners and sustainable packaging goals

How are brand owners doing in their plastic reduction goals

Examples of new product packaging – what types of paper packages are being introduced to replace plastic and what are the challenges for brand owners

The growth of e-commerce and the need to make shipping packaging more sustainable

Sustainable packaging – are consumers buying it? What do consumers know and how motivated they are to change their buying habits?

BIOGRAPHY

Susan Cornish is Principal Consultant at Insight + Action where she helps clients identify issues and develop research questions. Susan leads client engagements and manages all aspects of projects from research design and data collection, through analysis, reporting, and other deliverables. She has in-depth knowledge of packaging sustainability and the recycling industry, plus expertise in all aspects of product and packaging innovation research. She has worked with global clients in many sectors including packaging, consumer packaged goods, hospitality and food service, waste management/recycling, and recycling non-profits. Prior to Insight + Action, Susan was a Vice President at several global Consumer Insights firms. Here she worked with brand owners in Marketing, contributing to product and packaging development decisions. Susan led research teams, developed better reporting methods, and worked with clients and IT to create client portals and automated reporting. Susan holds an Honors BA, 1st Class, from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, BC, Canada where she majored in Geography and Economics. She has an MSc and PhD from the University of Toronto, Canada where her dissertation research focused on product innovation.

Zoom Link:

https://stevens.zoom.us/s/93320868101

Website:

https://www.stevens.edu/sustainability-seminar-series

Jointly Sponsored by:

HUGO NEU Corporation
WSP
Brown and Caldwell
H2M Architects and Engineers
Lozier Inc.
Dewberry
HDR

Contact:

Dr. Dibs Sarkar