The Role of Food Packaging Design in Consumer Recycling Behavior—A Literature Review

TLDR

Household waste sorting is essential for efficient waste management and cost‑effective recycling, yet the impact of food packaging attributes on sorting behavior remains poorly understood. This review examines how food packaging attributes influence consumer sorting behavior. The review shows that visual attributes and packaging quality can serve as effective communication channels to encourage consumers to sort food packaging waste.

Abstract

Household waste sorting at the source is an essential part of the waste management system in many countries. Correct sorting of this waste, including food packaging waste, is cost-effective, it facilitates the recycling process and enhances the quality of the recycled product. Although there is a growing body of research that studies the effect of different attributes of food packaging on household recycling behavior, the effect of these attributes on the sorting of the food packaging waste is not well known. This contribution reviews work that studies the relationship between attributes of food packaging and consumer sorting behavior. The review highlights the potential of the visual attributes and the quality of packaging as a communication channel for encouraging consumers to sort the food packaging waste. The efficiency of the waste management system and the quality of recycled products can hence be affected by the proper design of food packaging.