A consumer survey conducted in Germany by Appinio GmbH on behalf of DIE PAPIERINDUSTRIE reveals that paper and cardboard remain deeply ingrained in everyday life and widely preferred across key applications. Nearly 87% of respondents consider paper essential to their daily routines, and 93.5% believe paper and cardboard will remain indispensable in the future. The survey, which gathered responses from 2,000 people across Germany, highlights strong consumer trust in fiber-based materials, from packaging to education and hygiene.

Packaging emerged as a central theme, with 90.9% of participants supporting replacing plastic with paper and cardboard. In brick-and-mortar retail settings, 64.6% prefer paper-based packaging, a trend especially strong among consumers aged 55 to 65. Online shopping shows similar results, with 57.5% favoring paper or cardboard shipping materials. The data suggest significant untapped potential in food packaging, where just over a third of respondents regularly encounter fiber-based options.

Beyond packaging, the survey underscores paper’s role in daily habits and social infrastructure. More than 84% consider paper indispensable in education, a view shared across students, working adults, and retirees. Nearly 80% prefer to write lists, notes, or diaries by hand, and 88.2% want essential documents, such as birth certificates, contracts, and registration certificates, provided in paper form. Hygiene remains another stronghold, with almost 85 percent preferring paper towels to electric dryers in public spaces.

Sustainability awareness is also rising. A striking 95.5% of respondents view the circular economy as a major driver of innovation, and consumers believe that at least 75% of paper and cardboard is successfully recycled. “The survey results clearly show that paper and cardboard are and will remain popular materials with diverse applications,” said Alexander von Reibnitz, Managing Director of DIE PAPIERINDUSTRIE. “We are particularly pleased that consumers so clearly prefer paper in the packaging sector. This gives our industry a further boost.”

The findings confirm strong public support for the paper industry’s transition to renewable, recyclable, and resource-efficient materials, reinforcing the long-term role of fiber-based products in a sustainable future.