A recent survey conducted by sustainable materials innovator Aquapak reveals that 58% of British shoppers are most worried about microplastics generated from plastic packaging. These tiny fragments form when plastics degrade, posing threats to the environment and human health. The concern outweighs other issues like landfill waste, incineration, and false recycling claims.
The study highlights a gap between consumer expectations and brand actions. While over half of shoppers intend to stop buying single-use plastic packaging within a year, 65% feel brands aren’t doing enough to reduce plastic use. Meanwhile, 59% prefer plastic-free, eco-friendly alternatives, and 57% want more kerbside-recyclable paper packaging.
This growing concern coincides with new findings showing the UK leads Europe in e-commerce plastic delivery bag usage, with 941 million bags delivered in 2024—projected to rise by 40% by 2030. Alarmingly, only 9% of these bags are reused or recycled.
Aquapak offers a solution through Hydropol™, a marine-safe polymer that dissolves harmlessly in water or breaks down in landfill or ocean environments without producing microplastics. Hydropol-based garment bags are already adopted by eco-conscious brands like Finisterre and N. Brown Group, helping them reduce plastic usage by up to 44%.
Mark Lapping, CEO of Aquapak, emphasized that with e-commerce surging, it’s critical to adopt scalable, safe alternatives like Hydropol to address consumer concerns and environmental challenges.
