Despite surging cost of living, consumers aren’t willing to budge on sustainability, finds new research from Shopify.
More than half of the Australian consumers surveyed say they shop sustainably, will continue to do so, and are willing to wait longer for delivery if it means a lower carbon footprint over the holiday sale season.
Australians are also more likely to recommend when they are buying from a sustainable company (61%) and are willing to pay more for sustainable products (39%).
When it comes to Aussie retailers, they are not only rising to the “conscious consumer challenge”, says Shopify, but exceeding it. More than three quarters cite sustainability as a core part of their business ethos, which is said to be above the global average of countries surveyed. The majority also agree it’s a “major driver” of brand loyalty (82%).
This is despite the barriers of investment (43%), lack of time (32%) and know-how (25%).
“Conscious commerce is growing on a mass scale, and plays a significant role in the purchasing decision of today’s consumer,” says Shopify APAC Managing Director Shaun Broughton.
“It’s incredibly promising to see the determination of both consumers and businesses to make better choices for the environment through these findings. As an industry, it’s now critical that everyone plays their role in lowering the barriers so that conscious shopping doesn’t come at a cost to the planet.”