Finland: Metsä Board teamed up with Finnish vegetable co-operative, NärpesGrönsaker to compare, which of the two, cherry tomato cartons made of paperboard with the currently used plastic box, adds value to the product. The study specifically looked at consumer perceptions, food waste aspects and climate impact.
The research was carried out by Sense N Insight, and a detailed consumer study was carried out in Finland.
The results showed that consumers regard paperboard as a more responsible choice than plastic packaging and that this perceived value translated into a willingness to pay more for it. The study also demonstrated that the paperboard cartons preserved the cherry tomatoes at least as well as the plastic equivalent.
The project also entailed another study, that about the shelf life and climate effect of growing cherry tomatoes in the two packagings, which was done by the Natural Resources Institute of Finland.
According to the results, cherry tomatoes were preserved at least as well in paperboard cartons as in the plastic packaging.