German consumers generally have a positive view of packaging and recognize its essential role in daily life, according to a new survey released for the 11th annual Packaging Day.

Commissioned by the German Packaging Institute (dvi) and eleven industry associations, the representative study examined public attitudes toward packaging, sustainability and recycling.

Hygiene and Protection Lead Consumer Priorities

When asked about the functions they value most in packaging, respondents highlighted practical benefits.

The top priorities included:

• Hygiene (37.6%)
• Ease of opening and resealing (33.1%)
• Product protection (32.6%)
• Shelf-life extension (32.1%)

The findings suggest that consumers continue to view packaging as an essential tool for food safety, convenience and waste prevention.

Recyclability Tops Sustainability Expectations

Among broader packaging expectations, recyclability emerged as the most important attribute, with 48% of respondents ranking it among their top five priorities.

Other sustainability factors included:

• Efficient use of packaging materials (40.3%)
• Minimizing environmental impact (36.1%)
• Reusability (33.3%)

“The results clearly show that sustainability and the circular economy remain highly important to people in Germany,” said Dr. Natalie Brandenburg, Managing Director of dvi.

Strong Approval, But Knowledge Gaps Remain

More than 80% of respondents rated packaging positively for maintaining hygiene, while:

• 78.1% praised its protective function.
• 70.3% valued its ability to extend shelf life.
• Nearly 70% said packaging helps identify products and provides useful information.

However, misconceptions persist.

Only 35.6% believed the efficient use of packaging materials was good or very good, despite decades of material reductions.

Consumers Underestimate Recycling Success

The survey found that many Germans underestimate actual packaging recycling rates.

Only 31.2% correctly identified that both paper and glass packaging achieve recycling rates above 80%.

Respondents also underestimated recycling performance for:

• Metals
• Plastics
• Composite packaging

According to participating associations, these results highlight the effectiveness of Germany’s recycling system while demonstrating the need for improved public communication.

Packaging’s Environmental Impact Often Misunderstood

Awareness of packaging’s relative environmental footprint was also limited.

Only 19.5% of respondents correctly recognized that packaging typically accounts for just 3–3.5% of the environmental impact of packaged food products.

Many consumers believed packaging contributes a significantly larger share of the environmental burden.

Industry Outlook

The findings suggest that German consumers increasingly expect packaging to balance functionality with sustainability. While support for recyclability and circular economy principles remains strong, improving public understanding of recycling performance, material reduction and packaging’s role in preventing waste may become a key focus for the industry.

As regulatory pressure and consumer expectations continue to evolve, transparent communication could prove just as important as packaging innovation itself.

Source: German Packaging Institute (dvi)

Last Updated on 15/06/2026 by Jota Machinery