More than half of UK consumers would choose to buy a drink from a plastic bottle that can be recycled rather than one made from unrecyclable material, according to new research by YouGov (London / UK; www.yougov.co.uk). The study found that 51% of consumers wanted to see such packaging, while 30% of adults considered recyclable packaging "important" when choosing a drink to buy. This option was selected more than the brand (chosen by 26%) and the aesthetics of the bottle (9%).

The findings suggest consumers are becoming more aware of sustainable packaging and want more packaging to be both recyclable and made from recycled material. The study’s results were released by Veolia (London / UK; www.veolia.co.uk), which last week opened a new plastics recycling plant in Dagenham, east London (see Plasteurope.com of 03.10.2017). The firm said the data revealed that while packaging innovation could keep food and drink fresher for longer and perishables undamaged, the packaging's lifecycle is becoming increasingly important.

Estelle Brachlianoff, senior executive vice president of Veolia in the UK and Ireland, said the UK failed to capture 44% of all of the plastic bottles used, but if all were collected and recycled it could save approximately 300,000 t of material. Brachlianoff says as consumers' awareness continues to rise, Veolia hopes "to see more of the supply chain working together to solve the packaging puzzle."