Consumer Preferences for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Versus Bio-Based Treatments of Disposable Dinnerware: A Discrete Choice Experiment

Abstract Alternative disposable dinnerware treatments to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are under development. A discrete choice experiment of 1,304 U.S. consumers addressed the market’s response to bio-based alternatives. Information nudges were used to assess the impact of health and environmental information on behavior. Data were analyzed using mixed logit models. Bio-based treated plates generated premiums compared to the PFAS-treated plates. Participants exposed to either environmental or health information were willing to pay a price premium of $2.0-$2.12 for bio-based treatments. Both information nudges generated premiums for the USDA Certified Bio-based products relative to the control.