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Who participated in survey (sidebar)

This survey report includes the responses of 152 manufacturers who buy packaging materials, machinery, or services, and who filled out the online questionnaire at Packworld.com.

Individual respondents came from all departments within these companies, headed by those with purchasing titles at more than 15%. Participants with packaging and engineering responsibilities weren’t far behind; respondents with those titles each logged 14% of the 152 questionnaires used. Participants with marketing titles made up 11%, while 9% had research and development responsibilities.

Respondents from food companies made up the largest segment at 23%, followed by those who said their companies made nonfood consumer products at 15%. Participants from companies identified as making industrial products were next at 14%, while pharmaceutical/medical manufacturers made up 10%, and beverage companies logged in at 9% of all respondents.

Geographically, most respondents called the Midwest home, at 26%. The Northeast was home to 19%, while 11% said their companies were in the Southeast. About 8% of participants came from the West Coast and Pacific Northwest, and 7% of responses were from individuals who work for Canadian companies.

See the story that goes with this sidebar: Cost of materials causing shifts

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