Despite the shifting political climate on environmental issues, some sustainable packaging supporters believe growing consumer demand will continue to support the industry.
Consumer demand for sustainable packaging and bio-based products has continued to grow, and research shows buyers are often willing to pay more for such products.
“From an outlook perspective, expect that trend to continue,” said James Glueck, senior vice president of advanced bioproducts at the Corn Refiners Association. “No matter where we are in the country, no matter what our backgrounds are, we’re interested in how things are made and kind of what they’re made of.”
Research by the Plant Based Products Council found that familiarity with plant-based products has steadily increased. As of 2024, three of four consumers surveyed said they were familiar with the products, and nearly 80% said they would consider buying them.
The survey found 22.5% of respondents would not be willing to pay more, while the rest were okay spending anywhere from 1% to above 100% more for bio-based products.
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Particularly in an administration that has attacked climate initiatives and sustainability measures, Glueck said it’s important to emphasize that the conversation involves turning domestically grown crops into sustainable packaging. The process has broad economic impact when factoring in farmers who grow the product and individuals who work in manufacturing facilities.
“We talk about sustainability … from a business perspective, an industry perspective, it has to also make economic sense to be sustainable over a long period of time,” Glueck said following a panel at the USDA Agriculture Outlook Forum.
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