Coventry University

One of the most relevant problem planet Earth is currently facing is the plastic waste issue.
In 2016, Europe produced 60 million tonnes of waste alone, with an overall of 335 million tonnes worldwide. Plastic packaging represents 26% of the total volume of all plastic used and in Europe only 30 % per year is collected for recycling with a 39% being incinerated and the rest 31% ends up in landfills (Microbial Biotechnology, 2019). 
United Kingdom is a country that consider itself to be a nation of recyclers as data shows that over 86% of UK consumers say that they recycle food packaging (Mintel, 2018) and also the government has putted in motion its 25 year plan to improve the environment as a there has been a strong interest in buying loose products and for the supermarkets to have plastic free aisles ( HM Government,2018). 

OBJECTIVES
- To understand how many consumers, purchase products that are environmentally friendly and what factors influenced the buying decision;
- To understand how plastic free products have been perceived by consumers in terms of demand and options available;
- To gather views on the food packaging in terms of affordability, efficiency and environmentally friendly.
- To understand if customers understand how to recycle.
SAMPLE
-Questionnaire will be send to customers who own loyal cards and/or have purchased plastic free packing products in the last 12 months from supermarkets such as Iceland, Tesco and Waitrose.
-A focus group of 60 people will be split into 4 groups. A Mintel (2018) report states that 91% of consumers believe recycling does indeed make a difference, however this statement weakens amongst younger age groups so based on this, the first group will contain male and females from 19-35 with low income while the second group will contain male and females aged 36-55 with higher income.

QUALITATIVE
For the focus group, 60 customers with different demographics (age, gender, income) as well as psychographics such as lifestyle, are invited and separated into 4 groups. They will be asked a variety of questions and asked to share their opinions about the food packaging prior being given the opportunity to see and touch the plastic free new packaging.
Issues Discussed:
-Which parts of the packaging are recyclable;
-Consumers perception about the brand based on the packaging;
-The relevance of the packaging when purchasing the product;
-Consumers attitude towards purchasing plastic free products;
-Difference between plastic free packaging and normal packaging.

Testing: Customers will be told to range and comment the products packaging. Each customer will be given a few samples of different products with different size of packaging. Customers will be asked to rate the samples on a scale from 1 to 10 based on how simple the packaging is, how easy to recycle is and how effective it is.
-Organic packaging as alternative;
-Perception of the target market;
-Looks of packaging and perception of it;
-Price.

QUANTITATIVE
The questionnaire will be given to those customers who purchased plastic free packaging products within the past 12 months. For this questionnaire, Likert-style set question are used with a 1-5 scale with 1 being the least important and 5 being the most important.
-Price is an important factor when purchasing a new vehicle;
-I would buy organic packaging products instead of normal packaging products;
-I have strong environmentally friendly views;
-I am satisfied with the products I buy;
-I am satisfied with the way I recycle;
-Organic packaging products are harder to find;
-I actively look for plastic free packaging products;
-I look after low price products, not environmentally friendly;
-Organic packaging products cost more.

Classification Questions
1)Gender
2)Income
3)Age
4) Normal packaging avoidance

When I applied to the Uni I was not fully aware of the consequences of brexit, even I did not hear about covid. The Uni is a great one but the effect of these two changes is fundamentally influencing my experience. I am optimistic and I do hope things will turn back to their original flow soon.

Très bonne université qui se concentre sur le travail en groupe afin de nous préparer pour le monde du travail. Les profs sont très à l'écoute et accessible. Différentes nationalités sont présentes sur le campus.