Table 2 Perceptions associated with...

Table 2

Perceptions associated with packaging material

Material	Theme	Perceptions
Material	Theme	USA	Japan
Glass	Sustainability	Recycling/reusability potential	Recycling/reusability potential
		“(…) for recycling, I tend to buy glass containers”	“(…) the fact that it’s glass makes it recyclable.”
		Environmental impact	Environmental impact
		“It's better for the environment.”	“In terms of sustainability (…), glass seems like a better option to me.”
	Food safety and quality	Quality preservation	Quality preservation
		“It helps to preserve the oil and the nutrients in it.”	“Glass doesn't dissolve in oil, so I chose 4 as the best.”
		Storage (opaque glass)	Storage (opaque glass)
		“(…) sunlight can affect the oil, so I don't want anything to get into it.”	“The main reason is that the container blocks sunlight, which prevents degradation.”
		Ability to see the product (clear glass)
		“I like to see what I'm buying.”
	Aspect	Premium (opaque glass)
		“I think it has a more premium feel.”
		Familiar (clear glass)
		“(…) it's simply familiar”
Bag-in-box	Sustainability	Environmental impact	Recycling/reusability potential
	Sustainability	“It would be like a paper bag that just absorbs the oil. It needs a really thick plastic layer inside.”	“(…) it would be easy to dispose of and is probably the best option.”
	Food safety and quality		Quality preservation
	Food safety and quality		“I think it could shrink as the content decreases, protecting the product from oxidation.”
	Aspect		Familiar
	Aspect		“(…) it's like a soy sauce container”
Metal can	Sustainability	Recycling/reusability potential	Environmental impact
		“I think it's easier to recycle so they can fix it, repair any dents, and then bring it back and refill it.”	“I just couldn't picture how that would work [for the environment] if it was made of metal, so I ruled it out.”
	Food safety and quality	Quality preservation	Quality preservation
		“I would be concerned that, if it was in metal, the metal would transfer.”	“I was worried that substances might leach from the metal.”
		Ability to see the product	Ability to see the product
		“(…) the fact that you can't see how much you have left in the can. So, for me, that would not work.”	“(…), if the content changes colour, you might not notice it, as its not transparent.”
	Aspect	Traditional
	Aspect	“It's ‘old school’. I think it's how olive oil was bought in the olden days.”
PET plastic	Sustainability	Environmental impact	Recycling/reusability potential
	Sustainability	“(…) I also think about nanoplastics, and I want to reduce my consumption of them.”	“(…) plastic and bag containers (whether paper or otherwise) can be recycled later.”
	Food safety and quality	Quality preservation	Quality preservation
		“(…) plastic leaks all those pesticides and stuff into the oil.”	“There's also the problem of microplastic leaching.”
		Ability to see the product
		“I like that I can see inside [numbers] 2 [clear glass] and 5 [PET plastic], which are transparent.”
	Aspect		Durable
	Aspect		“I prefer plastic containers. With glass, there is a risk of it falling, which is dangerous.”

Material	Theme	Perceptions
Material	Theme	USA	Japan
Glass	Sustainability	Recycling/reusability potential	Recycling/reusability potential
		“(…) for recycling, I tend to buy glass containers”	“(…) the fact that it’s glass makes it recyclable.”
		Environmental impact	Environmental impact
		“It's better for the environment.”	“In terms of sustainability (…), glass seems like a better option to me.”
	Food safety and quality	Quality preservation	Quality preservation
		“It helps to preserve the oil and the nutrients in it.”	“Glass doesn't dissolve in oil, so I chose 4 as the best.”
		Storage (opaque glass)	Storage (opaque glass)
		“(…) sunlight can affect the oil, so I don't want anything to get into it.”	“The main reason is that the container blocks sunlight, which prevents degradation.”
		Ability to see the product (clear glass)
		“I like to see what I'm buying.”
	Aspect	Premium (opaque glass)
		“I think it has a more premium feel.”
		Familiar (clear glass)
		“(…) it's simply familiar”
Bag-in-box	Sustainability	Environmental impact	Recycling/reusability potential
	Sustainability	“It would be like a paper bag that just absorbs the oil. It needs a really thick plastic layer inside.”	“(…) it would be easy to dispose of and is probably the best option.”
	Food safety and quality		Quality preservation
	Food safety and quality		“I think it could shrink as the content decreases, protecting the product from oxidation.”
	Aspect		Familiar
	Aspect		“(…) it's like a soy sauce container”
Metal can	Sustainability	Recycling/reusability potential	Environmental impact
		“I think it's easier to recycle so they can fix it, repair any dents, and then bring it back and refill it.”	“I just couldn't picture how that would work [for the environment] if it was made of metal, so I ruled it out.”
	Food safety and quality	Quality preservation	Quality preservation
		“I would be concerned that, if it was in metal, the metal would transfer.”	“I was worried that substances might leach from the metal.”
		Ability to see the product	Ability to see the product
		“(…) the fact that you can't see how much you have left in the can. So, for me, that would not work.”	“(…), if the content changes colour, you might not notice it, as its not transparent.”
	Aspect	Traditional
	Aspect	“It's ‘old school’. I think it's how olive oil was bought in the olden days.”
PET plastic	Sustainability	Environmental impact	Recycling/reusability potential
	Sustainability	“(…) I also think about nanoplastics, and I want to reduce my consumption of them.”	“(…) plastic and bag containers (whether paper or otherwise) can be recycled later.”
	Food safety and quality	Quality preservation	Quality preservation
		“(…) plastic leaks all those pesticides and stuff into the oil.”	“There's also the problem of microplastic leaching.”
		Ability to see the product
		“I like that I can see inside [numbers] 2 [clear glass] and 5 [PET plastic], which are transparent.”
	Aspect		Durable
	Aspect		“I prefer plastic containers. With glass, there is a risk of it falling, which is dangerous.”

Source(s): Authors’ own work

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