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Aussie consumers prioritising ethical and sustainable products

New research reveals a shift among Australian shoppers towards “conscious consumerism”, with 87 of them saying that they are more likely to purchase products that are ethically and sustainably produced.

The survey of 1002 Australians commissioned by parcel delivery service CouriersPlease (CP) also shows that 85 per cent of consumers want retailers and brands to be more transparent as to where their products come from and how sustainable they are, as well as whether or not their producers are engaging in ethical practices.

NSW tops the states when it comes to conscious consumerism, with 87 per cent of respondents calling for transparency from retailers, followed by 85 per cent of Queenslanders, and 68 per cent from ACT.

CP also found that 41 per cent of Aussie consumers are willing to pay more for ethical and sustainable products – more so among younger shoppers (those below 30 years old) at 46 per cent compared with 34 per cent of over-50s. A higher proportion of women are also willing to spend more on sustainably produced products at 46 per cent, compared with 36 per cent of male consumers.

“Our research reveals that Australians are becoming more conscious shoppers and are starting to make more considered choices by seeking, and purchasing, products that are sustainably and ethically produced,” Paul Roper, Chief Commercial Officer at CP, said. “This is an important incentive for retailers to embark on sustainable initiatives within their own operations and supply chain.”

Roper added that CP themselves are working as hard as they can to achieve carbon neutrality.

“We recently gained LowCO2 Certification for all our operations from The Carbon Reduction Institute, and are working on several other ‘green’ initiatives which will help us on our path to becoming a carbon-neutral carrier by 2025,” Roper said. “One such initiative is our partnership with sustainable sock company Manrags, which has provided all Australian households with access to a digital at-home textile collection service.”

This story first appeared on our sister site Inside Small Business.

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