Percentage of recycled content influences product perception – research by the University of Bonn.
A recent study by the University of Bonn, Germany, has revealed that consumers rate products more positively when the use of recycled material is clearly labelled. When the participants were asked to rate PET bottles made from 25% and 100% recycled content, their assessments of quality and sustainability increased in both cases.
Under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), the use of recycled materials will be mandatory for many types of packaging from 2026 onwards.
However, producers shouldn’t regard this as merely a legal obligation. Transparent labelling of recycled content can build trust, promote the acceptance of recycled materials and, as a result, actively support the goals of a well-functioning circular economy.
