According to research, more than 50% of consumers expect a food-to-go outlet to provide cutlery and over a third expect to be able to reuse reusable cutlery more than 10 times.
The survey by Sapio Research, conducted on behalf of Celebration Packaging, has looked at consumer understanding of the bans on single-use plastic packaging, the alternative materials available and expectations around reusables.
Bans on the sale of single-use packaging, including cutlery, are already in place in Scotland and are set to be introduced in England.
The survey showed that 53% of consumers expect a food outlet or takeaway to provide cutlery for them; however, 46% said they were happy to carry their own cutlery for consuming food on the go.
We need to offer the best recyclable or compostable alternatives, or be able to supply viable reusable options.
In place of single-use plastic cutlery, more than half of consumers would prefer reusable bamboo (54%) or metal (53%) cutlery.
Celebration Packaging Managing Director Nick Burton, commented: “As a long-established packaging supplier and with bans on single-use items such as cutlery either in place or coming soon, we were keen to discover consumer views and the potential impact on food-to-go operators.
“The fact that more than 50% of people expect cutlery to be provided suggests that there is going to be an ongoing demand for single-use cutlery in some form. So, with the ban on single-use plastic, we need to offer the best recyclable or compostable alternatives, or be able to supply viable reusable options.”
