Consumer Survey Confirms Sanitary Nature of Single-Use Packaging Remains Most Important Benefit

Foodservice Packaging Institute's third consumer survey shows overall perceptions remain consistent with previous surveys

FALLS CHURCH, Va., June 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Foodservice Packaging Institute released its third Consumer Perceptions on Foodservice Packaging Report to gain continued insight into the general consumer's use and perception of single-use foodservice packaging. To discover those consumer perceptions and provide feedback to its members, FPI commissioned a third-party to conduct a detailed survey. This survey focused on the frequency with which people use single-use packaging and their perceptions and behavior choices related to foodservice packaging. Particular attention was given to the post-pandemic landscape amidst increasing industry scrutiny.

"The spotlight focused on single-use foodservice packaging has not waned over the past few years, and the industry faces more challenges than ever," said Natha Dempsey, president of FPI. "We wanted to better understand consumer perceptions around these packaging products and compare them to our previous surveys conducted in 2019 and 2021. With the continued evolution of foodservice packaging and the industry, we felt the timing was right to dig into consumer beliefs."

In the 2025 survey, participants were asked questions about their perception of potential benefits, concerns or attributes of single-use foodservice packaging items. In both the U.S. and Canada, the clean and sanitary nature of single-use foodservice packaging items, followed closely by the convenience of being able to take food on the go, was in line with the two most important benefits in 2021. The ability to see the food inside the packaging remains the least important performance attribute.

Reaffirming results from FPI's previous surveys, respondents in both countries said being leak- or spill-proof and stopping oil or grease from soaking through and staining clothes, car seats, etc., remain the most important attributes of single-use foodservice packaging, followed closely by protection from tampering.

Results also showed that 56% of adults in the U.S. and 62% of adults in Canada use single-use foodservice packaging at least once a week. This represents a slight decrease from 2021 results for U.S. and a slight increase for Canadian respondents. Within U.S. respondents, survey results in 2025 and previous surveys show that those with the highest income remain the most likely to use single-use foodservice packaging every day, and higher education appeared to correlate with higher use.

Participants were asked questions about how frequently they use single-use foodservice packaging; their beliefs about the importance of performance attributes in single-use foodservice packaging; benefits and concerns they have about single-use foodservice packaging and their reusable counterparts; their behavior choices related to foodservice packaging; environmental issues; and, new in 2021, the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each question was analyzed looking for significant differences in responses across demographic groups and frequency of using single-use foodservice packaging, and from the 2019 survey.

The final report includes input from 800 respondents in the United States and Canada, balanced across income, education level, gender and region. This sample provides a statistically representative view of the beliefs of these populations with a 95% confidence rate with a plus/minus 5% margin of error.

FPI members and contributing participants received complete survey results. A complimentary executive summary of the report is available on FPI's website. 

ABOUT FPI: Founded in 1933, the Foodservice Packaging Institute is the trade association for the foodservice packaging industry in North America. FPI promotes the value and benefits of foodservice packaging and plays an active role in advancing the recovery of FSP to support the circular economy. The association serves as the industry's leading authority to educate and influence stakeholders. Members include raw material and machinery suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and purchasers of foodservice packaging. For more information, visit www.FPI.org.

SOURCE Foodservice Packaging Institute