19 November 2014
LiquiGlide Survey Reveals Just How Much Consumers Hate Waste
For the Lost Value, the Environmental Impact and the Principle of the Matter, Consumers Hate Throwing Away Sticky Products Trapped in Packaging
LiquiGlide Inc. today announced survey results that clearly demonstrate consumers' intense dislike of product waste and the extreme measures many of them take to get the last few drops of everything from food items like peanut butter and mayo to health and beauty items like toothpaste and body lotion, including picking through garbage and even physically injuring themselves. The survey of over one thousand US consumers asked participants about their attitudes and habits related to the packaging, use, waste and disposal of sticky consumer goods. To conduct the survey, LiquiGlide asked questions that focused on waste awareness and attitudes regarding consumer waste. The results offer insight into the reasons why they dislike wasting products and just how determined they are to get every last drop.
Survey Highlights:
- Consumers hate waste. When told how much shampoo, conditioner, mayonnaise, laundry detergent, toothpaste, and body lotion that the average person throws away, 89% of those surveyed responded that they think it's "a huge waste," and 85% say they hate that they're not getting the full value of what they paid for. While 57% of respondents think manufacturers are "screwing them over," almost two-thirds (60%) say what bothers them most is the wasted money.
- They hate it more than going to the dentist or doing household chores. When asked to rate their dislike for certain activities on a scale of 1-10, wasting consumer products (average: 4.8) topped going to the dentist (4.3) and doing chores (4.2), and tied paying taxes (4.8)! Waiting for the cable repairperson topped the list, with an average rating of 5.7.
- It's not only about the lost money; it's about the principle of the matter and the environmental impact. The top reason why people hate wasting consumer goods is wasted money (60% of respondents). When asked how much money they thought they lost annually because they couldn't get to the last few drops of product, 60% estimated between $1 and $49, and 33% estimated $50 or more worth of product wasted each year. Beyond money concerns, 20% of respondents said it's the principle of the matter that they should get everything they paid for, and 16% cited environmental concerns.
- Consumers are determined to get every last drop. People hate wasting consumer goods so much that nearly 40% of respondents say they won't quit until they get every last drop from the packaging. More than 60% of respondents spend more than a few minutes squeezing or scraping the last drops of product, including 15% who spend "as long as it takes." More than two-thirds (69%) say they hesitate to open a new package when there's still a tiny bit left in the previous one.
- They'll try some unbelievable tricks to get every bit of product out of its packaging. Almost all respondents have used at least one special method to get every last drop out, from storing bottles upside-down (84%) to adding water (68%), cutting containers open (61%), using spatulas (40%) and using centrifugal force (19%). A few more zealous consumers admitted to buying special tools (12%) and pulling unfinished bottles from the trash (11%). More than 50% of respondents said they have their own tricks. When asked for the "craziest way" they've gotten product out of its packaging, respondents admitted to smashing, heating, stepping on, licking, sucking and biting...
- Getting the last few drops can come at a price. Almost 60% of respondents admit to making a mess; 31% have gotten product all over themselves and an impressive 13% have injured themselves chasing those last few drops.
- While shampoo is frustrating, toothpaste and lotion are the worst. When asked to indicate frustration toward a list of specific viscous consumer products, respondents indicated that toothpaste and body lotion were the most frustrating, with average ratings of 5.8 based on a 10-point scale.
- Consumers crave a solution. The overwhelming majority of respondents said they were willing to try new packaging if it enabled them to get products out easily (toothpaste, 93%; shampoo, 89%; body lotion, 88%; laundry detergent, 87%; conditioner, 85% and mayo, 80%). The survey also revealed interesting data about brand loyalty - most respondents are willing to switch brands for ones with more efficient packaging (body lotion, 74%; toothpaste, 71%; laundry detergent, 69%; shampoo, 68%; conditioner, 67% and mayo, 60%).
"We know that consumers hate waste and they're clearly expressing a need for better packaging solutions. It's a problem we take seriously," said LiquiGlide CEO Dave Smith. "Our slippery, safe coating technology can be customized to help any viscous liquid slide easily across surfaces. We are confident that our permanently wet coatings are going to become an industry standard and change the world by significantly reducing consumer waste."
