Purchasing Deli Foods and Detergents in Bulk Using Personal Containers Across Japan: Current Practices and Acceptability

Abstract

This study focuses on the behavior of purchasing deli foods, liquid seasonings, detergents, and body care products in bulk using personal containers. The objective was to investigate the nationwide prevalence and acceptability of these practices in Japan. The findings reveal that approximately 20-30% of respondents currently engage in purchasing deli foods by weight using personal containers. Additionally, nearly 60% of respondents indicated that they would be somewhat willing to use their own containers if bulk purchasing options were made available, with overall acceptability reaching nearly 80%. In contrast, the prevalence of using personal containers for liquid seasonings and detergents is around 10%, but the potential willingness to adopt this practice stands at 20-30%, and the overall acceptability is about 40%, indicating a moderate level of receptiveness. The study also reports on various examples of existing bulk purchasing practices using personal containers.