Consumer acceptance of packaging made from post-consumer recycled polyolefin plastics (PCR-PO) in the food and cosmetics sector: influencing factors and convincing environmental arguments

Despite the potential of packaging made from polyolefin-based post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR-PO) for a circular economy, it is often not used in the food and cosmetics sector. with regard to the role consumers play in this, three questions arise: What are the decisive factors for the acceptance of PCR-PO packaging? How are they justified? Can corresponding acceptance barriers be broken down using environmental arguments? A guideline interview and a card ranking with physical stimulus material made of PCR-PO plastic were carried out in this study. The results of the study suggest that the use of PCR-PO plastic is rather accepted in the cosmetics sector than in the food context. In the food sector, PCR-PO packaging that is too dark and too rough could lead to acceptance problems. With regard to the persuasive power of environmental arguments on PCR-PO packaging, emphasizing ecological benefits in terms of resources and circularity – detailed and quantified - seems to be advantageous over other ecological arguments.