As Earth Day arrives, Beko Home Appliances and Alibaba.com released studies suggesting that demand for products associated with sustainability has a better-than-average chance of becoming popular with consumers.
Research sponsored by Beko, which specializes in cooking, cooling and cleaning products, demonstrates that, when it comes to specific positive environmental actions, respondents are installing energy-efficient appliances, at 55%, cutting down on single-use plastics, at 47%, and buying locally sourced and organic produce, at 44%. In addition, 83% of consumers surveyed said they are willing to invest in new appliances that reduce food waste, increase electricity and water efficiency, or help them live healthier. Among those appliances, a smart refrigerator with crisper drawers that preserve vitamin content in produce came in as most popular, at 70%.
The Earth Day-themed study touched on the link between food waste, food preservation and healthier living. More than three-fourths of Americans throw food away at least once a week, and 48% admitted to feeling increasingly guilty about it, Beko pointed out. From a demographic perspective, 57% percent of Gen Z and 49% of Millennials admit to contributing to food waste at least a few times a week. After throwing food away, they generally felt wasteful, at 32%, and disheartened, at 12%. When it comes to aspiration, 84% of respondents wished they could keep fruits and vegetables fresher for longer, and almost that many, at 81%, believed they would eat healthier if they did.
As to nutrients, eight in 10 of the survey respondents said getting their vitamins from fresh produce is important and, so, would likely choose a refrigerator that went beyond preserving produce to also preserve produce vitamin content. Then, when it comes to living spaces, seven in 10 said they would be willing to pay extra to buy or build a carbon net zero home if it helped protect the environment.
“We’re optimistic that Americans understand the seriousness of food waste and the need for greater food preservation, and are willing to change their behavior and even their buying habits to help solve the problem. It’s especially encouraging that so many respondents want to extend the life of produce and produce vitamin content, and believe that doing so will give them a healthier, more sustainable life,” says Justin Reinke, vp of marketing for Beko, in announcing the study results, and he added, “The good news is that most Americans still believe that by taking small sustainable actions in the kitchen and throughout the house, we can create a future where we produce and conserve as much energy as we use. For those of us concerned about the planet we are leaving the next generation, this is music to our ears.”
Alibaba, the multinational China-based marketplace, that operates in the United States, particularly for wholesale orders, looked at sustainable product demand from buyers worldwide from 2022 to 2023. As a hub for e-commerce buyers looking to purchase cost-effective, eco-friendly products, Alibaba stated it is using data to help small-to-medium businesses and suppliers address the global need and increasing demand for sustainable product offerings.
According to Alibaba, the top five countries generating sustainable product purchasing on its site are the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Germany.
Alibaba data indicated that the top year-over-year growth categories globally in terms of sustainability-related research are:
- Personal care & house cleaning, up 56.9%
- Beauty, up 47.6%
- Household kitchen items, up 45.4%
- Mother & baby products, up 41.6%
- Household appliances, up 34.9%
A key indicator of growth for sustainable product demand includes the large uptick in keyword searches relating to sustainability experienced on Alibaba.com’s request for quotation feature, which allows buyers to share their requirements for product design and manufacturing, and receive pricing details from desired suppliers. Alibaba.com saw an 88% global increase in keywords such as “sustainable,” “eco-friendly,” “biodegradable,” “zero-waste,” “renewable,” “organic” and “reusable” over the past year.
“Earth Day provides a unique opportunity for us to reflect on the growth of both awareness and sourcing of more sustainable products,” said Rah Mahtani, Alibaba U.S. chief marketing officer. “We have been extremely encouraged to see such a significant increase in both search and purchase of eco-friendly products. Sustainable buying from the end consumer has a ripple effect in the broader global supply chain and we encourage our buyers to make product decisions that best fit the needs of their customers. In this case, it’s a bigger focus on sustainable products. We’re pleased that Alibaba.com has become a reliable, central location for buyers to find more than six million sustainable sourcing and products worldwide.”
