Consumer Purchasing Behaviors: EU* vs USA “Extremely” and “Very Interested,” 2020 European and American consumers differ in their interest in sustainable shopping behavior. Europeans are more interested than Americans in some key sustainable consumption behaviors, including being keener on prioritizing durability, recycled materials, responsible brands, and third-party certification. Differences are largest in terms of third-party certifications, with fewer than half of US consumers expressing interest compared to nearly six in ten European consumers. Notes: * Includes: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, … “Insight of the Week: Consumer Purchasing Behaviors: EU vs USA”
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Keep up to date with our latest news, webinars, and reports.
Keep up to date with our latest news, webinars, and reports.
Priority for Post-COVID-19 Economic Recovery Global Public Opinion, 2020 There is strong public support to build back better in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Majorities in 16 out of 27 markets surveyed say they would prefer to see a restructuring of the economy that addresses challenges like climate change and inequality, rather than simply getting the economy back to normal as soon as possible. Younger generations and those with higher education are more supportive of building back better, as … “Insight of the Week: Priority for Post-COVID-19 Economic Recovery”
Consultation, engagement and collaboration are the backbone of many of the approaches seeking to tackle today’s most entrenched sustainability issues. Consulting stakeholders and encouraging them to represent their interests and expertise can give us a broader and more meaningful perspective, increasing our understanding of issues within a sector, and building consensus to define good practice. However, poor quality engagement leads to a sense of ‘consultation-fatigue’, and risks disenfranchising the very same groups it seeks to involve. The decision-making processes that … “Webinar | From Consultation To Collaboration: Stakeholder Engagement That Drives Systemic Change”
New global study finds the next generation of citizens is looking for transformative brand leadership, co-created solutions, and radical change for the future they want December 4, 2020 – A health pandemic. Economic crisis. Racial justice uprising. Existential environmental threats. Like never before, a new generation is facing the confluence of profound global crises and calling for transformative brand leadership, co-created solutions, and radical change to meet an era of shifting paradigms, not just shifting preferences. According to a new … “Radically Better Future: The Next Gen Reckoning | Report”
Key Messages Three-quarters of European consumers (76%) agree that we need to consume less to preserve the environment for future generations and most say that they would like to spend more time with family and friends (78%) or to spend more time in nature (74%) – activities that do not necessarily involve material consumption For our consumption patterns to stay within planetary boundaries, each European would have to reduce by 80% the amount of natural resources they currently use for … “Report: Our Material Consumption is Soaring, but Earth Cannot Afford Black Friday”
New GlobeScan research found that 77% of consumers are interested in choosing products that last longer, and 53% said they were interested in buying fewer things, in general. But there remains a gap between intention and action. “… the propensity to buy less stuff — or at least thinking more carefully before making purchases — could be here to stay. That is certainly what GlobeScan’s 2020 Healthy & Sustainable Living Study suggests. Carried out in June 2020, the survey looked … “Is Black Friday Dying? Consumers Say They Want to Spend Less This Holiday Season”
Every two years, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and GlobeScan conduct one of the largest seafood consumer surveys in the world, engaging over 20,000 consumers in 23 markets. This year’s results show high levels of concern for our oceans are driving a new wave of consumer activism, as conscious food consumers increasingly ‘vote with their forks’ to safeguard our oceans. We recently hosted three webinars across global time zones (see details below) between 10-12 November 2020. In these sessions, we … “Webinar | The Rise of the Conscious Food Consumer: COVID, Climate and Conservation”
COVID-19 has had a huge impact on the travel and tourism industry, with estimates ranging from 60% to 80% decline in international tourism for 2020, but the sector is preparing for a resumption of travel once the threat of the pandemic has subsided. In order to ensure that the renewal of international travel is a green recovery that doesn’t lead to an undoing of conservation gains made with travellers over the last few years, it is important to understand the … “Webinar | Ivory Consumption Among Chinese Travelers: Preparing for Post-COVID Tourism”
On 23 November 2020 we hosted a webinar to discuss the growing popularity of plant-based products and the fast growing marketing introductions of plant-based meat and beverages. We drew from our global and Asia Pacific research conducted during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic showing that consumers around the world are willing to change their behavior to become healthier and more sustainable. The webinar explored GlobeScan’s Healthy & Sustainable Living study, which was designed and launched with a range of partners … “Webinar | Going Mainstream: Alternative Meat and Plant Based Drinks”
As we continue to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating social and economic effects, companies are continuing their efforts to become more sustainable — and some are being recognized for their efforts. The 2020 Sustainability Leaders, a GlobeScan / SustainAbility survey of experts worldwide, reveals which companies are perceived to be leaders on sustainability during this challenging time by sustainability professionals representing business, government, NGOs and academia. Over 700 experts were surveyed online across 71 countries in May. Results … “Corporate Sustainability Leadership During a Pandemic”
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The 2020 Healthy & Sustainable Living study was designed and launched with a range of partners including CVS Health, IKEA, PepsiCo, Visa, and WWF International to help organizations better understand the mindsets of global consumers and what enables them or prevents them from living in a healthier and more sustainable way. The 27-market study was conducted in June 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 27,000 people took part in the global study that asked them about attitudes, … “Webinars | Healthy & Sustainable Living in a Global Pandemic”
Understanding the drivers that lead to travelers purchasing ivory while abroad can help us target our conservation interventions more effectively. COVID-19 has had a huge impact on the travel and tourism industry, with estimates ranging from 60% to 80% decline in international tourism for 2020. In order to make up for this precipitous loss, the sector is preparing for a travel boom once the threat of the pandemic has subsided. “We know very few people have been leaving home this year, … “Ivory Consumption Among Chinese Travelers: Preparing for Post-COVID Tourism | Report”
The UN 2030 Agenda is a clear direction, but companies cannot reach or even make advancements on this agenda by themselves. That is why CSR Europe gathered the leading companies in an appeal for increased collaboration, not only in words, but with practical action. They asked for a New Deal for Europe – for a Europe with a shared sustainable vision for its future. As business leaders, they take the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a compass to make … “The Pact for Sustainable Industry: Making the Green Deal a Success | CSR Europe White Paper”
IKEA Retail (Ingka Group) and GlobeScan hosted a webinar on 15 October 2020 to explore learnings from our research project on the state of equality in society, the home and at work across the world. In this webinar Peter List, Global Head of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, IKEA and Caroline Holme, Senior Director, GlobeScan presented insights from our global expert and public opinion research. We also highlighted the next steps in the IKEA journey on equality. We were delighted to … “Webinar | Equality at Home and Work, with IKEA and GlobeScan”
Public opinion poll on social and environmental corporate performance Amsterdam/Toronto, 14 October 2020 – Research across 27 markets has found that trust in how companies communicate their sustainability performance has increased to a record 51% this year, with significant variations by country. The survey from GlobeScan and GRI asked 1,000 people in each location to indicate whether they agree that companies are honest and truthful about their social and environmental performance. The level of trust is the highest since the … “Rising Trust in Sustainability Reporting Around the World”
October 7th, 2020: Just-released global public opinion research shows that people all around the world are willing to adopt more sustainable and healthy behaviours, but they do not know where to start. The 27-market study was conducted in June 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 27,000 people took part in the global study that asked them about attitudes, opinions, and behaviors linked to more sustainable and healthier lifestyles. The 2020 study was designed with a range … “Study Finds People Want to Make Healthy and Sustainable Living Choices but Do Not Know Where to Start”
On 29 September, GlobeScan hosted a webinar to help better understand the evolving social contract between business & society as we navigate challenging and disruptive times. GlobeScan shared some of its latest Radar trends from its new 27-country public opinion study on views of business, government and NGOs, issues tracking, and shifting societal expectations. The following panel of diverse senior corporate leaders discussed the implications for companies: Francesca DeBiase, Chief Supply Chain and Sustainability Officer, McDonald’s Mzilla Mthenjane, Executive Head, … “Webinar | Business & Society: Latest Societal Trends and Corporate Leadership”
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and with a spotlight on inequality, expectations for companies are shifting. The current circumstances make for an important test of corporate purpose. In summer of 2020, GlobeScan partnered with the Test of Corporate Purpose (TCP) initiative, a project to assess how purpose-driven companies respond in a time of severe global crises and test if they truly “walk the talk” in delivering value for all stakeholders. This research also explored institutional priorities and performance … “Report: Stakeholders Rate Corporate Purpose in Time of Crisis”
Worry about climate change remains widespread despite the pandemic and economic crisis, and continues to increase in the USA and other large emitting countries Despite the immense impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic recession (documented in GlobeScan’s findings on the pandemic’s impact on inequality for the BBC), people in 27 markets surveyed also continue to care deeply about the climate crisis that is currently unfolding in parallel. Concerns about climate change and poverty remain high and steady – with the … “Climate Change: A GlobeScan Insight Report”
Trust in government, business, media, and science has increased as people look for leadership As people look for guidance and hope for solutions during the pandemic and the resulting economic recession, GlobeScan’s Radar survey of 27,000 people across 27 countries shows that trust in institutions such as national government, global business, and press and media has increased compared to 2019. Trust in scientists has also continued to increase, while trust in the medical profession (asked for the first time in … “Trust in Institutions: A GlobeScan Insight Report”
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Most Recognized NGO Sustainability Leaders % Experts, Total Mentions, Unprompted 2020 The World Wildlife Fund continues to lead as the most recognized NGO advancing global sustainable development among sustainability professionals across 71 countries across the world, with a sharp increase in positive perceptions since 2019. Greenpeace keeps a stable second position, driven particularly by strong recognition among European and Latin American experts. World Resources Institute is also increasingly pointed to as a leader, especially in North America. Notes: Question wording: … “Insight of the Week: Most Recognized NGO Sustainability Leaders”
Six months on from The World Health Organization officially declaring COVID-19 a global pandemic, a new global poll conducted for the BBC World Service shows that the impact of the pandemic has had a more severe impact on people in poorer countries and has exacerbated existing inequalities both within and across countries. Gen Z have also disproportionately experienced financial hardship as a result of the pandemic. The poll of 27 countries was conducted by GlobeScan in June 2020 during the … “New Global Poll Documents the Pandemic’s Impact on Inequality”
As part of a new Global Corporate Affairs partnership, Oxford University and GlobeScan are working together to help senior executives and corporate affairs leaders around the world to develop the contribution and improve the impact of the corporate affairs function. In our inaugural Oxford-GlobeScan Global Corporate Affairs Survey 2020, we captured the views of Corporate Affairs Professionals on issues and themes of relevance to the function. Key research findings are summarized below. Most Pressing Global Risks to Business The most pressing … “Report: Delivering Enhanced Insights to Help Corporate Affairs Professionals Improve the Impact of the Corporate Affairs Function”
Most Recognized Corporate Sustainability Leaders % Experts, Total Mentions, Unprompted 2020 Unilever, Patagonia and IKEA once again hold the top three positions among the most recognized corporate sustainability leaders according to sustainability professionals. Microsoft and Ørsted enter the top ten this year. Natura &Co and Tata are the only companies based outside of Europe and North America to appear on the list of the highest-ranked companies. Notes: Question wording: What specific companies do you think are leaders in integrating sustainability … “Insight of the Week: Most Recognized Corporate Sustainability Leaders”