Men are more frequent users of disposable products

A plastic spoon in ice cream or a polystyrene clamshell from a food delivery service: 42 per cent of Germans use disposable packaging at least once a month. This is the result of a recent Forsa survey commissioned by RaboDirect Bank.

Germany produces more packaging waste than any other EU country, at around 220 kg per capita per year. Whether it’s lunch from a food delivery service or a quick bite at the snack bar, 42 per cent of Germans buy food in disposable packaging at least once a month, and 14 per cent do so several times a month. Just six per cent of those surveyed stated that they eat takeaway every week. According to the study, men use disposable packaging more often than women, who are more likely to prepare food for the next day. 70 per cent of women take prepared meals with them to work instead of ordering lunch or going to the Italian restaurant around the corner. This compares with just 56 per cent of men. The survey also showed that cost consciousness is not matched by environmental awareness. 42 per cent of survey respondents who regularly counted their pennies used disposable packaging, compared to 32 per cent of the less money-conscious.

Demand for disposable packaging decreases with age of respondent. 86 per cent of people over 60 say they never or only rarely buy food in disposable packaging. In the 20-29 age group do so much more frequently: 71 per cent use disposable products once a month, and 15 percent do so once a week, which makes this age group the heaviest users of packaging. The situation is similar for the 14-19 age group, with 68 per cent of them using disposable packaging once a month. Bioplastics are a new alternative. Commissioned by RaboDirect Germany, the representative Forsa survey polled a total of 1,230 people between 21 March and 4 April 2019.