Consumer’s responsibility CO2 footprint
Description
Over the past decade, consumers awareness and responsibility regarding their carbon footprint has increased. The term ‘carbon footprint’ has become very popular over the last few years and is now in widespread public use. With climate change high up on the political and corporate agenda, carbon footprint assessments are in strong demand. As a consequence thereof and the public debate, consumers strive to reduce the carbon footprint attached to their purchases. This awareness and responsibility drives consumer’s behavior: 1. Consumers want to be informed; 2. Consumers want to be enabled to compare products on CO2 implications 3. Consumers make decisions based on outweighing economic (personal) versus environmental (communal) benefit
Enablers:
- Environmental awareness
- Need for information on demand
- Power of information – anywhere, everywhere
- A shift to alternative energy sources
- Global warming
Inhibitors:
- The oil price
- The financial crisis
- Poverty and economic disparities
- Speed of delivery/service
- Need for cheapest service/product
Paradigms:
Comparing products and services on environmental attributes, i.e. what product leaves a smaller carbon footprint becomes more important in consumer behaviour. Consumers’ perceived awareness and responsibility for the environment drives a need for information and choices. Old paradigm: buy as cheap as you can New paradigm: Buy as responsible as you can
Experts:
- Economists
- Environmentalist
- Consumer comparison sites
Timing:
Specific consumer responsibility regarding carbon footprint is present since about a decade. Ever since consumer comparison websites have appeared.
Web resources:
http://environmentalleader.com http://wiki.answers.com/Q/what is consumer awareness_and_its_needs http://salmanff.blogspot.com/2008/04/saul-griffiths-carbon-footprints-part-i.html