Some 39% of consumers actively seek to lead a sustainable lifestyle, and promote the same within their social circles, a new study by insurance firm MSIG has found.
The group’s latest Sustainability Awareness Survey found that a sizeable majority (83%) of consumers expect climate change to influence their daily lives in ten years from now.
At the same time, one third (33%) said that they find it challenging to adopt a sustainable lifestyle, citing ‘inconvenience’ as a key reason.
Reduce expenses
Among those surveyed, 23% said that they adopt sustainable habits to reduce expenses and 17% consider themselves ‘strong sustainability advocates’, driven by the belief that their current actions have long-term implications for future generations.
This perspective is most common among Generation X and Baby Boomers, the study found.
At the same time, 10% said that they adopted sustainable lifestyles because of social influence.
Obstacles to sustainable living
According to the survey, the main obstacle to adopting sustainable living practices is the perceived inconvenience and time commitment involved, cited by 35% of respondents.
This is followed by concerns about cost, mentioned by 29% of participants. Other factors identified include a lack of information (15%) and a belief among 12% that individual efforts may not make a significant difference.
The survey also revealed widespread concern over climate change, particularly among individuals aged 25 to 34 and those over 65, who express greater levels of concern compared to other age groups.
According to MSIG, ‘The survey sentiments highlight areas of opportunities for brands to consider providing avenues and options for consumers to be more sustainable, and address practical concerns around cost and convenience.
‘Measures such as improvement of how ESG-related information is presented and incentives to reward consumers for being eco-friendly can help advance environmental sustainability for the society.’
In this new era of sustainability, businesses need to adapt. Keep up to date with the latest developments at www.sustainabilityonline.net.
