ROMPAP Study: Over 80% of Romanians consider sustainability and environmental care a priority

Sustainability and environmental care are highly important concepts for 85% of Romanians. At the same time, only 7% believe enough is being done regarding recycling, and 6 out of 10 Romanians wish to do more than they currently do. These are some of the conclusions of a study conducted by ROMPAP – The Pulp and Paper Industry Association, in collaboration with the research institute Ipsos Romania.

The survey, conducted in April, was carried out nationwide and highlights some interesting aspects: over 90% of Romanians are very familiar or fairly familiar with the concepts of recycling, reusable packaging, selective collection, or plastic pollution. On the other hand, 56% believe too little is being done when it comes to recycling.

Paul-Henri Kohler, President of ROMPAP, stated: “We wanted to better understand consumers – what concerns them, what motivates them, what arguments and barriers they encounter when it comes to sustainability. This study, conducted with Ipsos, is an extremely valuable material for our industry. Even though the figures are encouraging, a team effort is needed at the national level to reach the goals we all desire. ROMPAP member companies will continue to support the adoption of efficient policies so that Romanians can make informed choices, preferring less polluting packaging and having access to more facilities for selective collection and recycling.”

Sustainability and Recycling: Who Should Take the Initiative?

6 out of 10 respondents state that the responsibility for recycling belongs to each citizen, with the participation of municipalities (55%), sanitation companies (50%), and the government (47%). On the other hand, only 26% of respondents consider schools to have an important role by informing younger generations about correct behaviors.

Solutions for Excess Packaging

When asked about the environmental impact of certain types of packaging, 78% of respondents stated that plastic items are more polluting than paper/cardboard ones. Replacing plastic packaging with biodegradable alternatives is seen as a solution by 34% of Romanians, while 1 in 4 believe the solution is replacing plastic packaging with paper or cardboard. On a personal level, more than half of the respondents (52%) are very willing to give up using plastic packaging in favor of more sustainable options such as cardboard or paper. 45% of interviewed Romanians consider that recycling paper/cardboard is very important to them. Half of the study participants believe that paper/cardboard packaging is as attractive as plastic packaging. One in two consumers declares that between two similar products at the same price, they prefer paper/cardboard packaging over plastic.

Selective Collection: Now and in the Future

More than half of Romanians pay attention to selective waste collection. Plastic is the most frequently collected material (92%), followed by glass (75%) and paper/cardboard (70%). The motivations behind this behavior are related to reducing pollution and negative environmental impact, responsibility towards the planet, and ensuring a more sustainable future for future generations. The main barriers to selective collection are the lack of access to proper facilities (48%), lack of storage space at home (38%), or the belief that selectively sorted waste ends up in the landfill (35%).

What Could Further Increase the Percentage of Materials Recovered by Citizens?

Most respondents believe there is a need for nationwide selective collection facilities. Sanitation companies could play an important role by purchasing compartmentalized vehicles, which would guarantee that selectively collected waste does not end up mixed at the landfill. Lastly, communication campaigns that provide complete and detailed information about selective collection and the recycling process for each material would be beneficial. Moreover, the involvement of central and local authorities in initiating distinct programs targeting cardboard recycling could contribute to generalizing sustainable behavior among the population and support Romania in achieving the agreed European targets. The need for specific campaigns is even more pronounced as 40% of study participants say they have never received information about the types and condition of recyclable materials/packaging in their area, and 55% declare they would like to have more information about sustainability, environmental protection, and recycling.

Communication and Information Campaign

Under the slogan “Lead the way in recycling, choose corrugated cardboard!”, ROMPAP launches an environmental protection information campaign in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Waters, and Forests. The campaign aims to change people’s perceptions and consumption habits, encouraging the use of paper and cardboard packaging – recyclable materials that help reduce pollution – and also to stimulate the population’s selective collection of these packages for recycling, as everyone can make a significant contribution to large-scale transformation for a cleaner and more sustainable environment.

About the Study

The study “Romanians’ Attitudes Towards Sustainability and Recycling” was conducted by the research company Ipsos in the form of online interviews through the Ipsos.Digital platform, from April 2-5, 2024. The study included 500 adult respondents from Romania, aged between 18-65 years. The questionnaire covered 6 modules – Context, Sustainability and Environment, Plastic Pollution, Selective Collection, Recycling, and Sources of Information.

About ROMPAP

ROMPAP, the Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, is an organization established in 1992, consisting of 19 member companies with an annual turnover of approximately 1 billion Euros and 5,400 employees. It is a member of two European confederations, namely the Confederation of European Paper Industries – CEPI and the European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers – FEFCO.

The role of ROMPAP is to monitor domestic legislation and actions undertaken by state authorities and institutions in the fields of industrial policies, forestry exploitation, environment, collection and recycling of waste paper, promotion of corrugated cardboard packaging, and to initiate actions to correct legislative provisions that contradict the interests of the industry and even European legislation.