BearingPoint: two thirds of UK consumers consider sustainability when buying new products

A new European study suggests consumers in the UK are more eco-conscious than those in Germany or the Netherlands as 65% consider sustainability when making a purchase.

Management and technology consultancy BearingPoint surveyed 4,000 people across the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and The Netherlands about their purchasing habits. 

It found two thirds of UK consumers say they consider sustainability when making a purchase decision, compared to 59% of those in Germany and 60% in the Netherlands. The UK was slightly behind both Italy and France where 74% of consumers think about going green. 

Conducted in late September 2024, the survey also found 23% of UK consumers are buying fewer new products than they were a year ago and 59% are buying secondhand products. 72% of UK consumers will now repair items to avoid replacing them.

BearingPoint’s survey also noted a gap between awareness and action, with 72% of consumers saying they are aware of their environmental impact but only 62% taking sustainability criteria into account in their purchasing decisions.

UK consumers were also found to have a higher level of trust in retailers compared to other nations, with 71% of Brits trusting the sustainability actions implemented by retailers, higher than the European average.

Richard Walters, Senior Manager of Sustainability at BearingPoint, comments: “Despite slower sustainable retail consumption in the UK compared to Italy and France, the gap is relatively small so this area does present a significant opportunity for retailers. Retailers should focus on working with suppliers to ensure that products meet customer expectations to attempt to bridge the gap.”

 “Other actions retailers could take include emphasising product eco-friendly credentials, improvements in how these are marketed to customers and supported by effective communication strategies. Integration of sustainability into corporate and commercial strategy will also allow companies the opportunity to offer incentives for making sustainable choices and increase the demand for sustainable products more widely.”

2025 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

Green retail will be a key focus area at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.

The awards, which are now open for entries, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Our 2024 hall of fame entrants were revealed during an event which took place at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London on 21st November, and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by comedian Lucy Porter.

In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “The event is now into its sixth year and what a journey it has been. The awards started life as an online only affair during the Covid outbreak, before launching as a small scale in real life event and growing year on year to the point where we’re now selling out this fine, historic venue.”

He added: “Congratulations to all of our finalists. Many submissions did not make it through to the final stage, and getting to this point is no mean feat. Checkout-free stores, automated supply chains, immersive experiences, on-demand delivery, next generation loyalty offerings, inclusive retail, green technology. We’ve got all the cool stuff covered this evening.”

“But just importantly we’ve got lots of great examples of companies taking innovative tech and making it usable in everyday operations - resulting in more efficiency and profitability in all areas.”

Congratulations to our 2024 winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Lucy Porter, and all those who attended November's gathering. 

For further information on the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards, please fill in the below form and we will get back to you asap.