Consumers want businesses to act on climate change

From the Carbon Trust

66% of consumers are more likely to buy products and services with a low carbon footprint

Climate change concerns are presenting exciting new opportunities for business, as new research reveals the emergence of the low carbon consumer. Released today, a new Carbon Trust study shows that nearly 66% of UK consumers are more likely to buy from a business they think is taking action to tackle climate change. Nearly 75% of UK consumers are concerned about climate change and their own carbon footprint and 66% want to know the carbon footprint of the products and services they buy.

Other themes emerging from the research that underline the potential business opportunity of the low carbon economy were:

• 66% of UK consumers are more likely to buy products with a low carbon footprint
• Environmental concerns are factored by consumers into more than 50% of buying decisions when purchasing cars, electronic goods, fast moving consumer goods and food and drink products.

Michael Rea, Strategy Director of the Carbon Trust, commented: “The fight against climate change has shifted into a new gear following the Stern Report. Our research shows that consumers want to know the carbon footprint of the products they buy. The demands of the low carbon consumer present an exciting prospect for businesses.

“The Stern Review showed that climate change is perhaps this century's biggest threat, it can be tackled and in doing so will open new opportunities for business. Now is the time to take action and Governments, businesses and consumers all need to work together to reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change. We believe that the businesses that embrace the challenge will succeed. Inaction is no longer an option.”

co2balance works with thousands of clients, providing advice on how to minimise carbon emissions.
We have helped all sorts of organisations reduce their carbon footprints by thousands of tonnes and then offset their unavoidable residual emissions. They are then CarbonZero. Using the CarbonZero logo on products and services provides a visual and prominent demonstration to consumers that a business is taking its climate responsibilities seriously.

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