Economic Impact And Brand Perception Of Eco-sustainable Packaging For 3D-Printed Petg Eyewear

Abstract

This study completes an applied investigation into the influence of packaging on brand perception and the economic value of optical eyewear manufactured from PETG through 3D printing. Kansei Engineering, Design Thinking, and reliability analysis are integrated, with particular emphasis on commercial viability and economic returns for Mexican SMEs. A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 (approximately 150 records identified and 20 studies included in the final selection). The review revealed a gap: most Kansei applications focus on food products, with limited simultaneous integration of the three pillars (Kansei + Design Thinking + reliability) and almost no application to customized technical or optical products manufactured through additive manufacturing. Based on this gap, a Kansei study was conducted using 100 calibrated responses (Hidalgo/Mexico context) to evaluate three packaging concepts (conventional, eco-sustainable, and eco-premium). The 15-pair semantic differential instrument demonstrated excellent reliability (α = 0.911-0.928). Key results: the eco concepts substantially outperform the conventional concept (positive mean scores of 5.77 and 5.53 vs. 3.66). From an economic perspective, 59% are willing to pay a slightly higher price, 65% consider packaging important or very important in the purchase decision, and the priority values (sustainability 58%, design 49%, and protection 46%) translate into potential for a premium margin, lower damage-related costs, and greater loyalty. The hypothesis is confirmed, and two product lines (standard eco and premium) are proposed, together with an implementation protocol for SMEs.