Largest Global Study of Consumer Response to Climate Change Puts the Onus on
Brands
- Call on brands to lead the charge in finding solutions for climate
change
- Although climate change is a major global issue, significant divisions
emerge in popular attitudes at local levels
- 79% of consumers would rather buy from companies doing their best to
reduce their impact on the environment - this is most marked in China
and Brazil, but least in the UK and US
- 89% of people are likely to buy more green goods in the next 12 months
- 35% are willing to pay a premium for green goods
- 74% of consumers feel they can actively contribute to solving Climate
Change - this figure is higher in developing countries, but lower in
developed countries
- Only 11% of respondents strongly feel their respective government is
doing enough to tackle Climate Change
Consumers are calling on brands to take responsibility for reducing the
impact of climate change as governments fail to make progress on the critical
issue, according to a major global study launched today by Havas Media.
In two-thirds of the markets researched (UK, US, Mexico, Brazil, Germany
and France) people felt more strongly that companies and their brands should
be finding solutions compared to the government.
The research paints a picture of a world that has given up on its elected
leaders' abilities to combat the problem, with only 11% of all respondents
agreeing strongly that their governments are doing enough to arrest climate
change.
This leadership vacuum presents a clear opportunity for companies and
their brands to step in and take a wider role in addressing climate change.
All markets express a clear desire to see more ecologically responsible
brands and believe multinationals can, and should, make a positive impact on
the issue. Consumers, however, are still very confused about the issue of
climate change and look to brands for clearer communication on the issue.
Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of who is credibly making
changes and who is not, despite green stereotypes associated with different
sectors. The result: green marketing strategies and good environmental
practices are no longer a "nice to have" for brands, but increasingly a "must
have" in terms of not only maintaining brand image but also in maintaining
market share.
The study kicks off a group-wide forum for Havas Media to help its
clients and employees develop a deeper understanding of the inevitable impact
of the climate change movement on consumer purchasing habits. Based on
interviews with more than 11,000 respondents in Brazil, China, France,
Germany, India, Mexico, Spain, UK and US, the study unearthed both local and
global characteristics that develop the current theories on a number of
widely-debated issues.
Whilst 80% of consumers were found to be actively engaged with the issue,
many showed significant inconsistencies in terms of concern and their
corresponding commitment to modifying their behaviour. The report identifies
not only levels of concern but also potential drivers for consumer behaviour.
For example, 24% are very active at a personal level, but are motivated
primarily for selfish reasons - these ''green badge'' wearers are what the
report classifies as 'Active Self Seekers'.
Some of the report's other findings include:
Consumers will pay a premium
The survey stated that 79% of consumers said they would rather buy from
companies doing their best to reduce their impact on the environment.
Further, 89% are likely to buy more green goods in the next 12 months and 35%
are willing to pay a premium for those goods. When it comes to actually
buying green, 80% of our respondents said they would buy more if more were on
offer. The report concludes that companies should not make the mistake of
confusing loyalty with a lack of consumer choice.
Branding strategies and sectors - definitions become more complex
The survey suggests consumer awareness of the damage done by particular
companies and sectors is growing increasingly sophisticated, and that
companies which fail to act responsibly can no longer expect to hide behind
generally positive perceptions of the sector in which they operate.
For example, some brands within banking - which, as a sector, is ranked
more environmentally correct than the oil and fuel industries - were
considered less environmentally friendly than some of the more proactive oil
and fuel brands.
And yet there are also clear incentives for companies in less
environmentally-respected industries to improve their performance. The
strongest-performing brands in the energy sector were considered more
environmentally virtuous than those in relatively neutral sectors, which are
perceived to have done little ecological damage, such as media and finance.
The report defines this phenomenon as "sector stretch" - as consumers
become more educated in green matters, they are beginning to distinguish
between companies without resorting to sector stereotypes. This is great news
for brands that communicate legitimate abatement strategies and less good for
those who have not yet made a start on mending their ways, as their ability
to borrow credibility from more proactive peers slips away.
Contrasts between developing and developed markets
In spite of the fact that the developed world is globally perceived to be
the largest contributor to global warming, the report highlights a dramatic
gulf between the attitudes of the richest countries and those in the
developing world.
Brazil, China and India are among those who claim to be most alarmed by
climate change, while respondents in the US, UK and Germany demonstrate far
lower levels of concern. Likewise, consumers in China, Brazil, Mexico and
India would be significantly more willing than their North American, British
and German counterparts to spend extra on environmentally-friendly products.
This represents an opportunity for brands within developing markets to
benefit from consumers more aware of climate change. In the developed
markets, where we see a strong resistance to giving up an established
standard of living, brands that can lead the market by finding solutions to
this perceived trade-off can enjoy sustained premium pricing, increased
loyalty and market share.
Alfonso Rodes, CEO of Havas Media comments:
"This research was undertaken to fit within our strategy of developing
our understanding of the impact of major shifts in consumer perception on our
clients' brands. It is clear to us that climate change and the corresponding
shift in consumers' relationships with brands represents one of the major
challenges for all brands during the next decade. This research is only the
start of a continuing dialogue that we will be developing alongside our teams
and our clients to deepen our ability to debate, understand and advise."
The report was conducted by IPSOS over nine countries (US, UK, Germany,
France, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, India and China) using over 11,000 online
interviews and 18 focus groups.
The full results and also a summary booklet are available on request by
visiting http://www.havasmedia.com or emailing
climate.changemedia@havasmedia.com. If you would like to view or interact
with a spokesperson about this report, Havas Media is launching an
interactive webcast at 3pm BST on Monday 12th May. You can take part or view
by registering on our website or log on to our climate change blog found on
http://www.green-think.org
The webcast is also available for download from 13th May. Please join us
in debating the issues and results. Climate Change Research
US Factsheet
- Respondents in the US simultaneously have the greatest understanding of
the climate change issue and the lowest level of concern
- 34% of US respondents are eco-apathetic - almost six times as many as
in Brazil or Mexico. The eco-apathetic typically marginalise the issue
of climate change, recognising the concept but sharing none of the
responsibility
- The US also has the third-smallest proportion of eco-absorbed
respondents in the world, with 23%. The eco-absorbed are those who are
very focused on the issue of climate change and only the UK (17%) and
Germany (15%) have fewer than the US as a proportion of the population
- 71% of American respondents agree that tackling the issue of climate
change means changing the way we live our lives - a significant
proportion, but still lower than any other country in the survey
- 61% of Americans agree that climate change will affect them and their
family, but only 50% believe they can contribute to solving the problem
- 51% of US respondents would be more likely to buy
environmentally-friendly goods in the next 12 months if they were at
the same price and standard as their usual brands. 31% would be willing
to pay a little extra for those goods
- Only 20% of Americans agree that their government is making a
significant effort to combat climate change
- Americans believe the oil and gas sector is the most damaging of all
economic sectors in terms of the environment, while media and telecoms
is the least damaging
About Havas Media
Havas Media is the global media network of Havas.
Havas Media represents one of the world's fastest growing media networks,
its agencies have grown from 10 markets in 1999 to 101 markets in 2007.
Havas Media services its clients through a portfolio of specialist global
networks and agencies. This group is organised to maximise local market
dynamics whilst leveraging the extensive global insight and strategic support
within Havas Media. The range of companies within Havas Media include: MPG
(Havas Media's global media network), Arena (Havas Media's network for
tailor-made communication services), Havas Digital (Havas Media's global
interactive network), Havas Sports (Havas Media's global sports communication
network) and Havas Entertainment (Havas Media's branded entertainment
network).
Recent new business wins from across the Havas Media teams include: Sears
(USA), BBC and Nationwide (UK), Danone (Canada, US, Colombia), Credit Suisse
(Global), ING (Italy), Coca-Cola (Latam), Christian Dior (Portugal), Reckitt
Benckiser (Belgium, Thailand, Switzerland), Turespana (Spain), Olympic Art
Festival (China), DCNS (France), French Hiking Federation (France), Nature
Valley (UK), Tourism Malaysia (UK), F&C Investments (UK), Bwin (Argentina),
Fox Channel (Argentina), Audi (Mexico), Grupo Damm (Spain), Goodyear (Spain),
Emirates Airlines (India), Nokia (Chile), Schering Plough (Mexico), Lacoste
(UK), Honda, BP Gas and Geox (Portugal).
SOURCE Havas Media
Contacts: Havas Media: Suzie Warner, suzie.warner@havasmedia.com,
+44(0)7968-450185; Neil Beston, neil.beston@propellercom.com,
+44(0)20-7087-2734, +44(0)7798-687796
