Survey Finds Around 50% of Consumers Buy Green Products

The results of a survey on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and consumer spending behavior was released on February 24, 2009, by Takahashi Ikuo, Professor of the Faculty of Business and Commerce at Keio University, and NTT Resonant Inc., the Japanese provider of online survey service "Goo Research." According to the survey, about 50 percent of consumers said they had purchased environment-friendly products and products with a part of their sales donated to developing countries.

The people that completed the survey said they mainly buy food and daily necessities, and most often buy them in stores, but admitted they are not always aware of environmental issues. Seventy percent of those who have never bought green products said they would like to buy them in the future. If the price remains the same or within 10 percent, many people said they would choose them. Many of those not willing to "buy green" are unsure if doing so will really contribute to society; they also think prices are higher.

The survey showed that, in order to further the sale of green products or products for a donation program, it is key that consumers feel that buying those products contributes to society and that their prices are reasonable.

Posted: 2009/06/20 06:00:15 AM

TAG Eco-product/Business , NGO/Citizen , Non-manufacturing industry