Review of c onsumer behavior and longer term sustainability concerns associated withproduct packaging highlighted by a UK case study base d around the COVID ۱۹pandemic and initial ۲۰۲۰ lock down event

The COVID ۱۹ pandemic event based around the SARS CoV۲ virus infections that originated in Wuhan, China, represents a change to global society that was both difficult to predict and difficult to perceive in terms of its repercussions. This study represents an attempt to a non repeatable set of circumstances to capture the overall environmental effect of a nine month study through a case study based on a n average sized middle income, European family. The main observations of the st udy include the reduction in the number of trips to the supermarket per week with a larger number of items purchased in a ‘ (an average ۲۵.۳  ۴.۷ items (۱۹.۰  ۱.۶ different items) changing to ۵۴.۲  ۵.۶ items (۳۵.۶  ۳.۹ different items)) and a grea ter spend (an average of £۲۵.۲۵ changing to a normalis ed for ۴ shop value of £ being seen either side of the first UK national lock down on the ۲۳ rd March ۲۰۲۰. The study goes on to look into the consequence of the change in habit on the product and packaging sought and the effect of both embedded energy and consequent implications for disposal and recycling from the modification of practice.

Keywords:

energy , materials , panic buying , shopping , i mpact