Consumer buying:

Climate change may influence consumers' buying pattern ???

Press Trust of India Writes

Growing concerns over environmental issues is already changing consumers' buying pattern in many developed countries and it should not be too far before the Indian buyers also start following this trend. "It would be the next logical step in the cycle of change," Kushal Yadav with Centre for Science and Environment said.

Indians are switching over to energy-efficient CFL lights from the traditional bulbs, he said, adding although it is more out of economic consideration than of environmental concerns.
According to a study by Germany's market research firm GFK released last week, consumers in that country would prefer to invest in more environment-friendly technology at their homes because of their concern over climate change.

"In future, consumers will stimulate domestic demand with their intentions to change their own shopping habits and investing in environmental-friendly technology for the home," the GFK research said.

Yadav said: "Change is not stand alone, it is regulation which drives the changes." He said regulation would bring in faster changes towards environment-friendly products. There are, however, some food product manufacturers who would prefer to pack their goods in environment-friendly material even though they are not bound by any regulation.

Vijay Gupta, owner of President brand of spices, said: "I would prefer to pack the products in card board than using plastic material." Four out of five consumers in Germany intended to stop keeping their electrical appliances on standby and replacing traditional light bulbs with the energy-saving variety.

The GFK research study also found 58.5 per cent people who showed willingness to buy new domestic appliances which use less power to cut down energy consumption and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Interestingly, concerns for climate change may reduce meat consumption as 28 per cent women and 15 per cent men in the survey showed their preparedness to change their eating habits.

Meat consumption is linked with animal husbandry, which is also considered a major reason for methane gas emission that contributes to global warming.

"At least one in five consumers are currently prepared to cut down on meat consumption," the study said.
The GFK study said 50 per cent of the people surveyed expressed scientific portrayals of climate change were realistic while 35 per cent believed the problem is even more serious.
However, only 13 per cent of the German people said the debate was highly exaggerated.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) agreed that climate change was already under way and damaging the nature.
The IPCC, represented by more than 100 countries of the world, last Friday blamed global warming on greenhouse gas emissions while predicting desertification, droughts and rising sea levels in tropics, from sub-Saharan Africa to the Pacific islands.

Link PTI News , The Hindu