Some 74% of Spanish consumers consider sustainability to be an ‘important factor’ while shopping, however less than two fifths (37%) say that they find it easy to maintain a sustainable lifestyle, new research from AECOC has revealed.
According to the Spanish retail and consumer goods association’s 2026 Sustainability Barometer, while sustainability remains an important purchasing consideration, other factors – most notably value for money – often take precedence.
Reducing costs
Where possible, Spanish consumers are adopting sustainable behaviours that also help reduce household costs. For example, almost all (97%) respondents said that they try to minimise food waste by buying only what they need – of this cohort, 43% cited environmental concerns as their main motivation for doing so, while 54% identified saving money as the primary reason.
Elsewhere, Spaniards have sought to reduce water and energy consumption (94%), separate and recycle waste (93%), choose more energy-efficient appliances (92%) and purchase products in recycled or recyclable packaging (90%).
Packaging considerations
Two fifths (40%) of respondents said that they had stopped buying a particular product because they believed its packaging was unsustainable, while a further 33% said that they had considered doing so.
In addition, 87% of respondents said that they actively buy products with less packaging, while 80% called for clearer recycling instructions on packaging. A similar percentage (78%) felt that the onus was on manufacturers to reduce unnecessary packaging where possible, with a quarter saying that they believe companies are currently doing enough to improve the sustainability of their packaging.
AECOC’s study also explored the level to which sustainability influences brand loyalty, with 42% of consumers saying that they have stopped buying products from brands they perceive to be unsustainable, and 26% preferring to choose sustainable brands provided prices are comparable.
The AECOC Shopperview 2026 Sustainability Barometer was sponsored by Checkpoint Systems, Lidl, Natulim and Smurfit Westrock. Read more here.
