New research from American Express suggests that sustainability remains front of mind for some shoppers despite the current economic climate and budget pressures.
According to a survey of 2,000 UK consumers, two-thirds (65%) think about the environmental impact of the goods they buy when shopping. Four in 10 (41%) say they prefer to shop locally rather than online, reducing the carbon footprint associated with deliveries driven by e-commerce.
The research found that a third (32%) would spend more on an item that had better environmental credentials, jumping to almost half (45%) amongst 18-34 year-olds. A similar proportion (30%) of shoppers said that if the cost-of-living crisis wasn’t impacting their day-to-day spend, they’d be more inclined to shop sustainably.
The stats are featured within a new American Express report – How We Buy: The Trends Shaping Shopping – which offers insights on consumer buying behaviours and preferences.
Daniel Edelman, UK general manager, Merchant Services at American Express, commented: “Our research shows that despite the current challenges, sustainability remains important to shoppers. However, as consumers become increasingly selective about where to spend and what they buy, merchants need to scrutinise their own sustainability strategy and how best to communicate that effectively to customers.”
