| Summary: | The escalating environmental concerns related to packaging waste, resource depletion, and pollution have intensified the global push towards sustainable packaging solutions. As consumers become increasingly aware of environmental issues, their purchasing decisions are expected to shift toward eco-friendly alternatives. However, despite growing awareness, the actual adoption of sustainable packaging remains limited, often due to various psychological and practical barriers.
This review clarifies what drives consumers to choose sustainable food packaging. Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour as a lens, 30 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025 were systematically analysed. Research output has surged since 2018, is concentrated in Asia and Western Europe, and relies mainly on cross-sectional surveys tested with structural-equation modelling.
The synthesis shows that attitude splits into moral and functional facets, subjective norm is strongest when rooted in family or local-authority approval and perceived behavioural control depends on price, infrastructure and personal efficacy. Purchase intention rises when packages deliver clear functional benefits, carry credible eco-labels and evoke pride or moral duty and it falls when price premiums exceed about ten per cent or disposal is inconvenient.
Moderators such as market maturity and product category explain why identical cues succeed in some contexts but fail in others. The study refines Theory of Planned Behaviour by disaggregating its constructs and highlights the need for longitudinal data and behavioural validation. For practitioners, the findings underline that functional assurance, price parity and trusted certification are prerequisites for turning pro-environment sentiments into actual purchases.
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