Consumers prefer traditional packaging to newer containers

Continue to consider the metal can the safest of all containers, according to Can Manusfacturer's Association.

27/09/05 Americans continue to overwhelmingly favor traditional packaging, including metal cans, in their food and beverage purchases and continue to consider the metal can the safest of all containers. These major findings, as well as a review of the latest market trends, are a part of a new packaging trends report unveiled today by the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) in conjunction with PACK EXPO, the pre-eminent packaging industry trade show.

The report, which includes findings from a consumer telephone survey of 1,000 Americans conducted by Caravan for CMI, also reveals that while the metal can ranks among the three most trusted formats, busy consumers want future metal-container innovations to keep up with their desire for simple, easy-to-use and convenient packaging. The consumer survey underscores how recent metal food-can innovations are helping the can remain the most economical, environmentally friendly and safest packaging format.

Seven-of-eight Americans surveyed (88%) said they favor traditional packaging -- metal cans, glass and plastic -- over paperboard packaging and pouches. And more than 60 percent favor metal cans over either of the other newer packaging types. Metal cans also are rated more often than paperboard or pouches as best at keeping nutrients without preservatives.

Food safety persists as the biggest packaging concern among Americans, with nine-of-10 survey respondents acknowledging they worry about the safety of their food. Americans continue to consider the metal can the most tamper-evident packaging, with 68 percent listing the can, followed by glass bottles or jars, 65 percent; plastic bottles or jars, 63 percent, paperboard packaging, 54 percent and pouches, 53 percent.

Eighty-six percent of respondents listed metal cans as recyclable, handily beating paperboard and pouches (67 percent and 33 percent, respectively).

The metal can always has been environmentally responsible and packagers again are returning to more environmentally friendly materials and focusing on recycling to benefit the environment. Correspondingly, research points to steel as a very earth-friendly package.

The packaging trends report can be viewed at