For a lot of recipients, the real thrill of receiving Christmas presents is the unwrapping rather than the contents. The latest YouGov poll commissioned by the Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) reveals that more people prefer their festive gifts through the post packaged in cardboard than any other format.

This boost for the Corrugated Packaging Industry is from a November 2015 nationwide online YouGov* survey of 2,052 people. The survey asked: Which one, if any, of the following packaging materials would you prefer to receive Christmas gifts through the post in this season? Of those responding 47% said cardboard, 10% opted for polystyrene, 9% paper and just 4% preferred plastic.

Corrugated also came out strongly with a second question among those researched concerning sending Christmas gifts through the post. According to the YouGov findings 41% thought cardboard would offer the best presentation without compromising protection of the contents, against 16% for polystyrene, 9% for paper and 7% plastic.

Significant support for cardboard packaging came from a cross-section of society in the YouGov findings. The east and south of England scored the highest approval rating regionally with 55% and 54% respectively favouring receiving their festive treats in cardboard against other packaging materials.

Interestingly, of those surveyed with children in the household, a massive 48%, almost half those responding, said they preferred receiving gifts through the post in cardboard – probably a reflection of the popular belief among parents that their toddlers really do have more fun playing with the cardboard boxes at Christmas rather than the actual toys that are inside them!

CPI’s Director of Packaging Affairs, Andy Barnetson, believes that the result of the Christmas survey is testament to the material’s enduring appeal to consumers for transforming a shop-bought commodity into a personal gift, as well as being the easiest packaging to recycle after opening.

He said: “It is clear from this latest survey that cardboard is overwhelmingly the most popular packaging whether sending or receiving Christmas gifts – there’s nothing like a gift-wrapped cardboard box to set the pulses racing on Christmas morning, especially among children. It also backs up earlier polls showing that cardboard packaging improves customer satisfaction with their products.

“Then when it comes to cleaning up, households can have their recyclable material taken away by local councils’ kerbside collections or, alternatively, take it to civic amenity sites and recycling facilities at supermarkets.”

Corrugated’s renowned environmental credentials – it’s the most recycled material in the packaging industry – and protective qualities are boosting its appeal, making it a vital logistics partner in the 21st Century supply chain.

Christmas is a time for giving and according to the latest YouGov opinion poll, giving and sending gifts during the festive season packaged in corrugated cardboard can help to heighten the sense of excitement and makes for an even more magical time for a lot of households.

*All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,052 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 18th November and 19th November 2015.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

For additional information, please contact Emma Punchard, Director of Communications, tel: 01793 889609; email epunchard@paper.org.uk