Nestlé releases 2019 study on packaging, recycling preferences

Nestlé Waters North America (NWNA), Stamford, Connecticut, has released its third annual comprehensive national study called "This Is How We Planet: America’s Perspective on Water, Packaging and Health." The study highlights some of the biggest packaging and recycling challenges facing the United States today and how NWNA has made strides to address them in the past year, the company says.

The "This Is How We Planet: America’s Perspective on Water, Packaging and Health Study" reveals the following details:

• About 94 percent of Americans say that society produces too much plastic scrap, and yet 42 percent of those surveyed say it is easier to throw away plastic in their area than recycle it.
• Rural communities, in particular, are at a disadvantage, with 52 percent of rural residents saying it is easier to throw away plastic in their communities than to recycle it.
• Nearly three in four Americans—about 74 percent—expect to see more action from companies that use plastic to tackle the problem of plastic scrap.
• Only about half of Americans—52 percent—think they are aware of what kinds of plastic are and aren’t recyclable. Those who reported being aware of how to recycle plastics were nearly twice as likely to always recycle compared with those who were not aware. 
• Americans tend to support campaigns that encourage individuals to do more to recycle and explain the recyclability of different types of plastic.

“One thing is clear from our 2019 study: Americans are deeply concerned about plastic waste. They feel they should be recycling more and expect companies that use plastic in their products to do more, but those surveyed expressed facing obstacles in taking action,” says David Tulauskas, vice president and chief sustainability officer at NWNA. “Since last year’s America Recycles Week, we have made an effort to address some of these challenges to help realize a circular economy. We are on track to quadruple our use of recycled plastic across our domestic portfolio and we continue to support organizations that help improve access to recycling and inspire consumers to recycle more.”

NWNA says its latest study was led by PSB Research, Washington, which conducted 6,676 quantitative interviews from April 5 to May 6. Interviews included large samples of three primary audiences: American consumers, experts and state over-samples.