米国市場におけるヨーグルトパッケージの環境対応実装実態分析

抄録

This study aimed to observe and analyze the implementation trends of packaging in yogurt products distributed in the United States, and to comparatively analyze and present their characteristics. Given that a segment of consumers in the United States is known to tolerate price increases for sustainable products, this study examined how packaging in yogurt—a category where environmental considerations are expected—is designed under such market conditions. Single-serve products from four major brands were systematically collected and compared in terms of container composition, material selection, printing, design expression, and information presentation, supplemented by online sources, including official websites and historical materials, to obtain information on brand philosophy and past packaging. The analysis revealed that each brand adopts diverse packaging strategies without converging on a single approach, reflecting individual brand philosophies, prioritizing material waste reduction, and sometimes implementing monomaterial solutions. Some packaging partially sacrifices user-friendliness and product distinguishability, suggesting the potential for consumer tolerance of trade-offs between ease of use and environmental considerations in addition to cost. Although these observations do not provide quantitative proof, they offer valuable insights for future packaging development, highlighting the importance of engaging consumers collaboratively and considering regional characteristics when further strengthening environmental initiatives, and providing a novel perspective on how environmental priorities and consumer cooperation intersect in packaging practices, which can serve as a reference for researchers and practitioners exploring sustainability in packaging design.