Date of Graduation

7-2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Human Environmental Sciences

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Innovation

Advisor/Mentor

Wood, Lisa

Committee Member/Reader

Whitehead, Isabel

Committee Member/Second Reader

Shoulders, Kate

Abstract

This study surveyed consumers in Fayetteville, Arkansas to assess their perceptions of plastic-free food packaging. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, surveys were administered via email to Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences undergraduate students and faculty at the University of Arkansas. Eleven questions were asked in the survey. Numerical values were assigned to each answer option in order to interpret the results. The factors impacting consumer decisions to purchase foods packaged with or without plastic were ranked from greatest to least: sanitation/safety, availability where shopping, cost, shelf-life, and convenience. Food packaging materials were ranked from most to least likely to purchase by the participants: cardboard, plastic, glass, paper, aluminum/steel, then styrofoam.

Keywords

plastic; food; packaging; consumer; sustainability; free

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