Packaging is a new addition to Italian shopping carts. According to a poll conducted in Parma by Comieco (National Consortium for the Recovery and Recycling of Cellulose-Based Packaging) during Paper Week 2026, the type of container influences meal choices among those who shop or order takeout/delivery and ready-to-eat foods.
Regardless of daily routines, packaging, which was previously invisible in consumer decisions, has become an established criterion for choice: while food quality and price continue to influence the choices of 9 out of 10 Italians, product sustainability influences 77%, packaging convenience (resealability and portioning) 75%, and material type 72%. Paper and cardboard, which are widely used in the food industry (from deli counters to supermarkets to takeaway/delivery), are valued for their recyclability (48%), sustainability (37%), and light weight (29%). One statistic exemplifies how packaging has evolved: 96% of Italians read the disposal instructions on the packaging, and the label has become the primary source of information on how to recycle (cited by 32% of those interviewed), surpassing Google (24%), and the municipal website (24%).