Document Actions
July 04 2008
Online good for the environment
More than two in five consumers believe that shopping online is good for the environment and helps to reduce their carbon footprint.
There are lots of excuses for buying things, “it was in the sale”, “it was only half-price”, “the woman in the shop said it suited me“, “apparently it protects you against eletromagmnetic rays and Martian attack”, “I was too embarrassed to ask for condoms so I ended up with this tube of anusol”, and now we can add “apparently shopping online is better for the environment.”
According to a survey of UK households conducted by market researcher GfK, people believe that shopping online is good for the environment and helps to reduce their carbon footprint. The survey found that 69% of consumers believe that online shopping is good for the environment. When asked about their own impact on the environment more than two in five believe that shopping online helps to reduce their personal carbon footprint.
James Rudd, Commercial Director at GfK, says: “Online shopping is synonymous with saving money but our research shows that people also see it as a way to save the environment. It is perhaps uniquely British that we feel we can help the environment by shopping, but it is certainly an important factor in choosing to shop online.”
GfK’s survey results also show that shoppers are keen for more green online initiatives, but retailers are either not offering them or not advertising them.
A fifth of online shoppers, 21%, are having their shopping delivered at green time slots (when retailers consolidate as many drops as possible in one but at a possibly more inconvenient time), with only 5% not using the service when offered. However, three quarters of shoppers, 74%, say they are not given a choice or are not aware of the service.
Similarly, 32% of online grocery shoppers choose not to have carrier bags when offered compared to 26% that do. However, 22% of grocery shoppers say they are not given a choice and 20% say they are not aware that it is an option.
Rudd continues: “Online retailers have been keen to stress their green credentials, but there’s still work to do. Our research shows that many shoppers will use services such as green delivery slots or no carrier bags, but too often they are not given the choice or are not even aware they have it.”
Here at IR we agree with the great British public, online is a lot greener than traipsing around the shops, especially on a wet and crowded Saturday afternoon. So on Saturday we’re simply going to sit in-front of the television with our feet up watching old movies, shouting at the television and buying the groceries online. So no change there then? But seriously there’s a real opportunity here, if you want to get in on the green front and increase your sales then there’s nothing like adding a quick line to your marketing material that highlights the benefits to the environment of home delivery.
Subscriptions