The latest research from GfK shows that shoppers are increasingly changing their behavior as a result of their concerns about the environment.
Four in 10 (42 per cent) of European households say they are personally affected by environmental problems. In Europe, it is children that are the most persuasive in influencing household shopping behavior, and both manufacturers and retailers need to address this younger generation’s concerns if they are to remain relevant.
When it comes to attitudes to sustainability, more than one in three households in Europe has stopped purchasing services and/or products because of their impact on the environment or society. In other words, sustainability and caring for the planet has become – in some countries it is already – a mainstream consumer concern. No brand can afford to ignore it.
In 2019 when this survey started, the environment was of particular concern to the young, and “Fridays for Future” demonstrations amongst youth were sweeping the globe. In 2020, as consumers locked down and faced the threat of a global pandemic from their homes, it seemed that the environment might fall off our agendas, but instead, it has remained at the top of many household agendas.
It’s the younger members of our families that are having the most influence on family shopping trends. In Europe, household managers are influenced in their behavior primarily by their children (45 per cent), followed by their nearest and dearest: friends (42 per cent), spouse (37 percent) and parents (19 per cent). They may be young, but children are more persuasive than politicians (14 per cent), media influencers (13 percent) and celebrities (9 per cent).
Consumers believe their shopping behavior can make a difference
The 2020 data shows that shoppers increasingly believe that their buying behavior can make a positive difference to the environment. At 40 percent, manufacturers are still regarded as being able to have the biggest impact on the control and limitation of environmental damage, followed by governments at 35 percent. At only 5 percent, retailers are the least responsible.
Three out of 10 households make sure items they buy are not wrapped in plastic. In the era of COVID-19, when hygiene standards can save lives, it is all the more remarkable that so many consumers want to avoid packaging waste, and this is reflected in their shopping behavior.
As Jan-Fredrik Stahlbock, Consumer Insights expert at GfK says: ”The proportion of the shoppers who actively avoid plastic waste does differ widely across the countries in this latest study. However, it is evident that eco-active shoppers – those who feel responsible and are making active steps to reduce their plastic waste – are everywhere, and their numbers are growing in some countries at double-digit rates. Manufacturers need to stay ahead of the game and clearly differentiate which measures to prioritize. Retailer need to recognize that shoppers are actively looking for solutions – not offering them would be fatal in the medium and long term. So it’s also an important category management task.”
HEADLINES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED FROM BRAND SPUR
World Cleanup Day: Coca-Cola Partners NGOs, Recovers Over 900kg of Plastic Waste (PHOTOS)
World Cleanup Day, celebrated globally on September 19, 2020, saw diverse people come together to combat the solid waste problem through numerous community cleanup activities.
Orange and Schneider Electric Run Industrial 5G trials in French Factory
Schneider Electric, a leader in digital transformation, energy management and automation, and Orange, a global telecoms operator and leader in digital services, announced the first deployment of indoor 5G in the industrial sector in France on experimental frequencies as part of a trial.
Ventures Platform launches paid traineeship in Lithuania for Nigerian data analysts, scientists
Digital Explorers has launched applications for the second cohort of the program. This time, it is a female-only track that will select up to 15 female Data Analysts and Data Scientists at entry-level who will undergo up to 6 months paid traineeship in Lithuania. The program will consist of intensive training and a placement at a Lithuanian company.
