A new study by home appliance firm Beko has suggested that financial pressures have the most influence on the adoption of sustainable household practices.
Beko’s Smart Living Index surveyed some 6,000 consumers across 12 markets – the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Türkiye, Egypt, Thailand, Pakistan and South Africa – to gauge consumer viewpoints on sustainability and energy use, and how they are using smart appliances in their homes.
Respondents in each market reported changes in their approach to buying appliances over the past 12 months, with both long-term affordability and sustainability seen as increasingly important considerations.
Energy costs
Some eight out of 12 markets cited energy costs as the environmental concern with the biggest impact on their day-to-day lives, ‘reflecting how climate and sustainability challenges are most acutely felt through household energy bills’, Beko noted.
Energy-saving behaviours were found to increase with age, while also decreasing with income, which defies conventional assumptions about environmental engagement. In terms of demographics, the over-54 age group leads the way in terms of energy-saving behaviours.
The study also found that in markets where consumers tend to track energy consumption, the use of smart appliances and smart features was higher.
Thailand (81%), Pakistan (86%) and Türkiye (80%) showed the most enthusiasm for smart appliances, with Germany (39%), the UK (40%) and France (43%) placing less focus on said innovations.
‘Bridge the trust gap’
“The Smart Living Index highlights the urgent need to bridge the trust gap in smart technology and its benefits to unlock its full potential for smarter, more sustainable living in every household,” commented Hakan Bulgurlu, chief executive officer at Beko. “The findings also show how small, individual changes – when adopted at scale – can create significant collective impact.
“At Beko, we believe that consumers should have access to options designed to reduce environmental impact, regardless of financial pressures. By understanding global energy-saving trends and perceptions of smart appliances, we are even more equipped to meet the needs of our customers and support the shift toward more sustainable living.” Read more here.
