There’s only one planet to live on. Unfortunately, if we don’t start taking better care of it, our green planet may not be livable for long.
Each year another 8 million tons of plastic ends up in the ocean and in 2020, 68 million tons of pollution was emitted into the atmosphere from just the US.
What do people think about all this? Thankfully, people are starting to think more about sustainability as evidenced by promising eco-friendly shopping trends. Let’s take a look.
The Pandemic and Sustainability
We all know that 2020 was an upside-down year but one good thing that may have come out of it is greater environmental awareness. Memes circulated the internet with the tagline “nature is healing” because of events like pollution clearing away due to the lockdowns.
It made people think a little more about how much modern-day life affects the planet and how their purchasing decisions can help.
For example, in 2019 35% of survey respondents in the PWC’s Global Consumer Insights Survey said they looked for sustainable products to help save the environment. The 2021 survey found that 50% of respondents were concerned with being more eco-friendly.
But, what specifically are consumers looking for? Let’s look closer.
Packaging
In the EU in 2018, packaging waste piled up to the tune of 174.1 kg per person on average. The PWC’s 2019 survey found that 37% of people were actively looking for products with sustainable packaging. And data from this GWI survey found that over half (52%) of consumers want brands to use either less packaging or packaging made from recycled materials.
Eco-Friendly Business Practices
Furthermore, it appears that consumers are wanting businesses to step up and be more environmentally responsible. They want to see that brands are:
- Offering more eco-friendly products
- Offering more affordable eco-friendly options
- Using fewer chemicals/more natural ingredients in products
- Offering more transparency about their sustainability practices
- Donating to environmental conservation groups
- Offerings ways to responsibly dispose of products
Finally, consumers want the truth. With the increased interest in sustainability, there is also a rise in “greenwashing”. This is the practice of using eco-friendly terms and phrasing to imply that a product is eco-friendly when it isn’t.
Unfortunately, it works all too often. This is why so many consumers want companies to be more transparent about their sustainability practices. No one wants to have to spend hours researching the right brand from which to buy their soap.
Eco-Friendly Products and Gifts
Of course, sustainable packaging and eco-friendly supply line practices are only half the battle. The final trend we’re going to mention is consumers who are looking for more eco-friendly products. As in, the actual product is made from sustainable materials and won’t contribute to the growing waste production problem.
Think about it, how many products do you buy that you use only once? The packaging ends up in the garbage on day one and the product ends up there too — just maybe a little while later.
And while it’s hard to find eco-friendly products, it’s even harder to find eco-friendly gifts. There just aren’t many items out there made from sustainable and natural materials.
But companies and consumers are making that change — one purchase at a time.
Eco-Freshies: A Sustainable Gift
That’s the dream behind Eco-Freshies. A sustainable air freshener product that makes a wonderful gift. Our Eco-Freshies are made from only three materials, sustainably sourced clay, hemp cord, and a wooden or ceramic bead. The delightful scents are powered by essential oils to avoid chemicals.
Furthermore, there is zero plastic packaging and the freshies are reusable and biodegradable. Check out our collection today!