Overall, plastic has a mainly positive reputation in the sectors of the population interviewed; the differences between the individual groups are just a few percentage points. The plastics industry, the image of which has been improving steadily for a long time now, is, on the other hand, mainly seen in a more positive light by decision-makers (it has a positive image for 79 per cent of them) than is the case with well-educated young people, only 69 per cent of whom give the plastics industry positive marks.
The image of practically all areas of industry – with the exception of the automotive industry, the mineral oil industry and the banking industry – with the general public has deteriorated slightly, including the electronics industry – although the latter has the best image of all sectors of industry (1st place with 86 per cent in 2016) – the electricity industry (2), the chemical industry (3), the pharmaceutical industry (6) and the insurance industry (7). 74 per cent of the people interviewed (2016) see the plastics industry in a very or mainly positive light; the figure in 2015 was 77 per cent. The positive image of the plastics industry is still considerably better than average and puts the sector in 4th place in the overall ranking list.
“Only” 69 per cent (2016) of the well-educated young people interviewed have a positive impression of the plastics industry, on the other hand (71% in 2015). With its image, the plastics industry holds sixth place in the ranking list, behind the electronics industry (1), the electricity industry (2), the chemical industry (3), the automotive industry (4) and the pharmaceutical industry (5).
For the decision-makers, the image of the plastics industry is better than average in fourth place behind the electronics industry (1), the electricity industry (2), the chemical industry (3) and the pharmaceutical industry (4). All in all, however, considerably more of the DM (79 per cent in 2016; 80% in 2015) are positive about the plastics industry than is the case in the other groups interviewed. Overall, about 75 per cent of the general public have a very or mainly positive attitude towards both plastic and the plastics industry.