American consumers expect retailers to undertake sustainability initiatives, according to a recent poll by Sensormatic Solutions of 1,000 consumers aged 18 and above.
Consumers believe that corporations and retailers, not government regulators, should bear responsibility for adopting sustainable practices, according to 49% of those polled. 53% of consumers would buy from a brand or store less frequently if it were not sustainable.
18% would stop shopping at an unsustainable retailer entirely. 70% of consumers say that they are willing to spend at least 5% more for products that prove a sustainable supply chain. However, cost is noted by 55% of consumers as a deterrent to sustainable buying, followed by the lack of sustainable options in the stores they frequent (47%).
Most consumers (90%) believe retailers do not sufficiently demonstrate their sustainability efforts, and one-third of consumers do not trust claims about their green products. Consumers (62%) expect retailers to shift to sustainable packaging and improve inventory intelligence (54%). Similarly, over 90% of consumers agree that retailers should constantly improve their environmental efficiency and energy management in stores.
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