Consumers Behavior and Awareness on Packaging Waste Management for Circular Economy: Theoretical vs. Empirical Analysis

Transition of consumption models towards a circular economy is fundamental, particularly in the food packaging sector, which generates a high proportion of waste. In this context, consumers play a fundamental role, especially at the domestic level through separate waste collection, to limit the use of virgin materials and facilitate the reuse of high‐quality materials. This research investigates the habits and perceptions of Italian consumers to answer three questions: which factors influence purchasing decisions and disposal behaviors regarding circular and sustainable packaging (RQ1), which barriers and drivers affect participation in packaging waste prevention practices (RQ2), and which policies and strategies can improve consumer enrolment and support a more efficient management system (RQ3). A mixed‐method approach was adopted, combining a systematic literature review on consumer awareness in packaging waste management with a 19‐question survey distributed to Italian consumers. A total of 228 responses were collected and analyzed, highlighting behaviors, drivers, barriers, and policy implications.