{"id":9713,"date":"2025-10-10T02:46:31","date_gmt":"2025-10-10T06:46:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/?p=9713"},"modified":"2025-10-10T02:46:31","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T06:46:31","slug":"paper-packaging-on-the-rise-as-south-africans-go-greener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/?p=9713","title":{"rendered":"Paper packaging on the rise as South Africans go greener"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Respondents rated fibre-based materials most compostable, biodegradable and easiest to recycle. \/ Credit: Sunshine Seeds via Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

South Africans are increasingly choosing paper packaging as their preferred sustainable packaging option, with new survey findings showing paper and cardboard rank highest across 15 environmental, visual and physical attributes.<\/p>\n

The results\u2014part of the 2025 Two Sides Trend Tracker study\u2014place glass second, with plastic and metal tied for third.<\/p>\n

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E-commerce drives preference for recyclable, fit-for-size packaging<\/h2>\n

The survey indicates 64% of respondents want their online orders delivered in paper packaging, up from 58% in 2023\u2014reflecting growing concern about plastic waste and packaging recyclability. A further 80% prefer \u201cfit-for-size\u201d parcels that avoid excess materials.<\/p>\n

These figures point to a broader consumer shift toward recyclable packaging in South Africa\u2019s e-commerce sector.<\/p>\n

Respondents rated paper and cardboard highest for compostability and biodegradability, with around three-quarters favouring fibre-based materials on these measures.<\/p>\n

Roughly half identified paper\/cardboard as best for the environment overall and easiest to recycle.<\/p>\n

By contrast, glass scored highest for reusability and appearance, plastic for storage convenience, and metal for strength and durability\u2014suggesting different materials retain distinct roles depending on use case.<\/p>\n

Industry context and method behind the findings<\/h2>\n

The 2025 Two Sides Trend Tracker\u2014conducted by research firm Toluna in January 2025\u2014surveyed 12,400 consumers across 17 countries, including South Africa, to assess attitudes toward paper, paper-based packaging and alternatives.<\/p>\n

South African coverage of the results highlighted comments from the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (Pamsa) noting that \u201cright-sizing is not always possible\u201d in online retail, but cardboard boxes remain fully recyclable and welcomed by informal collectors and recycling firms.<\/p>\n

The survey\u2019s South African read-out also reports that 58% of people are actively increasing their use of paper-based packaging.<\/p>\n

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