Global: leading reasons to purchase sustainable items 2021

In 2021, the leading reason why consumers around the world considered buying more sustainable products had to do with price. Over a third of surveyed shoppers said that as long as the price of the sustainable item was comparable to other products and/or trends, they would buy more of these goods. Furthermore, factors such as quality and product availability remained very important to shoppers.

Sustainable habits worldwide

There are several ways in which consumers attempt to shrink their ecological footprint, from taking public transport to buying from brands that purposefully use bio-degradable materials. One common method observed in recent years has been the avoidance of consumption whenever possible: in 2022, more than half of consumers surveyed worldwide said they planned to avoid buying new goods for sustainability reasons.

The impact of inflation

While the desire to live a more sustainable life has grown over the years, consumers around the world were met with a problem in 2022: a heavy spike in inflation. It is believed that global inflation during this year will have reached approximately seven and a half percent, which is significantly higher than a typical annual rate (256598). The unfortunate result is that more than 60 percent of consumers around the world felt that this increase in the cost of living is preventing them from having a more sustainable lifestyle.