Eviosys European research

Consumers choose metal packaging and canned goods in the interest of sustainability and to withstand rising living costs

• 42% of respondents say that their main concern is the cost of living
• 40% say they would buy more canned goods to cope with rising living costs
• 85% would buy products with metal packaging knowing that they are 100% recyclable.
• 54% believe companies that adopt metal packaging are doing the right thing for the environment

Metal packaging giant Eviosys celebrates its first year as an independent group. Following 12 months of accelerated transformation that has prioritized sustainability, the European leader surveyed 2,000 people in the UK, France, Germany and Spain to find out what consumers’ priorities are in these uncertain economic times.

The survey confirms that 72% of consumers will not compromise on sustainability despite growing concerns about inflation. The new data show that, despite the rising cost of living, the majority of Western Europeans (61%) would still consider paying more for sustainably packaged products.

Fully recyclable metal containers do not require refrigeration and can be stored for longer periods of time. This can be a valuable help to consumers, both from an economic and environmental point of view. Due to the impact of inflation, consumers are already changing their behavior: 72% say they will not compromise on sustainability and 38% of consumers plan a more modest Christmas (UK 43%, Germany 31%, Spain 42%, France 35%). 30% plan to buy smaller gifts, such as limited edition chocolates and candies (UK 22%, Germany 33%, Spain 52%, France 13%), which strike a balance between cost and sustainability, as they are often packaged in metal containers.

Data and information:

Cost of living

• According to the survey, 77% of Britons consider the cost of living to be their main concern, compared to 66% of Spaniards, 63% of Germans and 59% of the French.
• Across Europe there are divergent opinions on canned food: 31% of Spanish consumers and a quarter of German consumers consider it a high quality product. However, only 11% of British consumers share this view.
  Sustainability
• 81% of consumers are concerned about the environment and 61% would consider paying more for a sustainably packaged product.
• The majority of shoppers (62%) feel angry or frustrated by the amount of plastic in supermarket aisles, with Germans being the most annoyed (74%).
• Three-quarters (74%) of respondents consider metal packaging to be more sustainable than plastic packaging.

The demand for sustainable alternatives

73% of respondents do not believe that companies are doing enough to combat plastic pollution. Seventy percent of Europeans say they are concerned about the type of packaging available to them, and as education about sustainable living and recycling increases, demand for circular packaging options will increase rapidly. Most people (68%) know that metal containers are infinitely recyclable and, with this knowledge, more than four out of five (85%) would be more willing to buy a product stored in this material.

Leading by example and taking steps to propose even more sustainable metal packaging solutions, Eviosys unveiled its new ESG program, Preserve Together, with the goal of accelerating the decarbonization process and reducing the carbon footprint of its Category 1 and 2 products by 20% by 2027 (compared to 2020) on the path to Net Zero by 2050. Among the actions Eviosys intends to take are:

• Modernization of curing equipment to reduce gas consumption by 60%.
• Installation of intelligent compressors to save up to 40% of electricity.
• Switch to LED lights in all facilities to save up to 90% of electricity.
• Install solar panels to generate up to 30% of their own consumption.
• Streamline product lines.

Sustainability is not limited to environmental action. Eviosys’ Preserve Together program also includes innovative inclusive products that have been enhanced for easy handling and use by everyone, such as the Orbit™ metal clasp, which is twice as easy to open as a standard metal clasp and effectively improves the accessibility of our products for people with mobility issues.

Cost of living concerns
More than three-quarters of the consumers surveyed (79%) already buy canned goods at least once a month. A quarter of people (28%) think buying canned food is an effective way to save money, and 40% say they will buy more canned food to overcome the cost-of-living crisis. Because food cans can be kept longer, they allow for more flexible meal planning, avoiding food waste, which preserves both our planet and consumers’ budgets. With no need for refrigeration, the choice of canned foods also helps the entire supply chain (food brands, logistics centers, transport companies and distributors) to save energy.

Olivier Aubry, Sales Director of Eviosyssaid: “This survey confirms that Eviosys is making the right choices by investing in sustainability, transforming our business to lead by example, with the dedication of all Eviosys employees, but also in partnership with our customers and suppliers. Consumers remain vocal about the impact of plastic pollution, climate change and the environment and, in this context, canned food can simultaneously offer an answer to many pressing issues.”