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Green Living - US

Published by: Mintel International Group Ltd.

Published: Feb. 1, 2008 - 92 Pages


Table of Contents


Scope and Themes

Definition

Consumer research conducted for this report

Abbreviations and terms

Abbreviations

Terms

Executive Summary

Drivers and corporate developments

Climate change leads environmental concerns

Corporations scramble for “green” investing dollars

Slowing economy and rising fuel prices spur demand for energy efficiency

Health and safety concerns bolster the market

Market in transitional phase as green products mainstream

Green personal care goes corporate

Automakers scramble for position in green future

Consumer influences

Green consumers optimistic but skeptical

Consumers believe that “green” products work

Most consumers not willing to search for “green” products

Tolerance of price premiums at 10% or less

Efficacy, awareness, habit key issues in qualitative research

“Greenwashing” concerns reinforce need for more objective standards for “green” products

Demographics of Green living

Young adults key targets for cutting-edge “green” products

Asians lead; blacks lag in environmental interest

Students and college graduates committed to “green” lifestyle

Households with children pose a challenge for “green” marketers

“Green” lifestyle transcends demographics

Low-income households need not be excluded from the “green” marketplace

The future of Green living

Interest in buying “green” for major purchases skyrockets

Marketing of multiple values will ensure success of “green” products

The future is “green”

Market Drivers

Climate change continues to hold public attention

Figure 1: General attitudes toward environmental concerns, December 2007

Green investing dollars pour forth

Stagnant economy and rising fuel prices spur demand for energy-efficient products; limit willingness to pay

Figure 2: Willingness to pay extra for “green” products, December 2007

Product health and safety concerns spike following rash of recalls of Chinese imports

Figure 3: Attitudes toward health benefits of “green” products, by gender, December 2007

Large corporations enter the green marketplace in force

Green products linked to concepts of health and quality

Market Size and Trends

The LOHAS Market

Figure 4: Graph: LOHAS “green” market size, by segment, 2005

The U.S. Healthy Products, Healthy Planet Market

Figure 5: HP2 market size and forecast, at current and constant prices, 2002-12

The Natural Products Marketplace

Figure 6: Sales of natural products through conventional FDM and natural supermarkets, segmented by product type, 2004 and 2006

Market Segmentation

Introduction

Food and beverage

Figure 7: Sales of natural food and drink products at FDM and natural supermarkets, at current and constant prices, 2004-08

Green personal care growing 20% annually

Pet foods and supplies

Household cleaning products

Clothing and linens

Building, building materials and home improvement supplies

Certification systems blossom

Green building gets pop culture boost

Housing bubble bursts

Local mandates

Costs of green building shrink

Solar is hot

Green design goes from exception to rule

Electronics and appliances

Industry faces substantial sustainability and power consumption issues

New products ahead

CE recycling goes mainstream

Major appliances

Cars and trucks

Figure 8: Price premiums and estimated fuel savings for hybrid versus conventional passenger vehicles, 2008

Consumer services

Climate change concerns drive market for greener air travel

Carbon offsets to ease guilt

Hotels

Car travel

Finding and booking green travel

Super/True Green Population Tripled over 16 months

Figure 9: Change in frequency of “green” consumer population, August 2006-December 2007

Awareness and Use of “Green” Consumer Goods

Awareness of “green” household consumables

Figure 10: Frequency of purchasing different categories of “green” products, December 2007

All product categories show greater penetration among Asians and Hispanics

Education most important for awareness of established “green” categories

Awareness of “green” durable and infrequently purchased consumer consumables

Figure 11: Influence of “green” factors on major purchases, by category, December 2007

Youngest and Oldest Core of “Green” Market in Online Population

Introduction

Green categories by age

Figure 12: Frequency of buying “green” products, by age, December 2007

Attitudes toward recycling, pollution, and premiums

Figure 13: Environmental attitudes, by age, May 2006-June 2007

Interest in conservation tends to increase with age

Figure 14: Environmental behaviors, by age, December 2007

Seniors lead in “green” shopping choices

Figure 15: Environmental shopping behaviors, by age, December 2007

Interest in “green” shopping growing fastest among seniors

Figure 16: Influence of “green” factors on CE products, by age, December 2007

The Impact of Household Income

Introduction

Attitudes toward recycling and pollution

Figure 17: Environmental attitudes, by household income, May 2006-June 2007

Green shopping by the rich and poor

Figure 18: “Green” shopping habits, by household income, May 2006-June 2007

Race and Ethnicity

Introduction

Figure 19: Frequency of buying “green” products, by race/ethnicity, December 2007

Attitudes toward recycling and pollution

Figure 20: Environmental attitudes and behavior, by race/ethnicity, May 2006-June 2007

Looking forward, “green” factors to play a larger role

Figure 21: Influence of “green” factors on purchases of CE products, by race/ethnicity, December 2007

The Impact of Education

Introduction

Figure 22: Frequency of buying “green” products, by education level, December 2007

Figure 23: Frequency of buying “green” products, by student status, December 2007

Attitudes toward recycling and pollution

Figure 24: Environmental attitudes, by education level, May 2006-June 2007

Willingness to sacrifice convenience or income

Figure 25: Environmental behaviors, by education level, December 2007

Households with Children

Introduction

Figure 26: Environmental attitudes, by presence of children in the household, May 2006-June 2007

Convenience is a must for families with children

Figure 27: Environmental shopping behaviors, by presence of children in the household, December 2007

How do Greens Think?

Introduction

Figure 28: Environmental attitudes, by personality traits, May 2006-June 2007

Reasons for Buying or Not Buying Green

Introduction

Effectiveness/quality

Figure 29: Attitudes toward effectiveness of “green” products, December 2007

The majority of respondents do not see “green” products as safer

Figure 30: Attitudes toward health benefits of “green” products, by household income, December 2007

Health and savings vs. environmental concern

Figure 31: Main reasons for “green” shopping, by gender, December 2007

Figure 32: Main reasons for “green” shopping, by race/ethnicity, December 2007

Availability

Figure 33: Consumer experience with the availability of “green” products, December 2007

Figure 34: Consumer experience with the availability of “green” products, by age, December 2007

Will consumers pay more for “green” and energy-efficient products?

Figure 35: Attitudes toward the cost of “green” products, by gender, December 2007

Figure 36: Attitudes toward the cost of “green” products, by age, December 2007

Figure 37: Attitudes toward the cost of “green” products, by household income, December 2007

Figure 38: Attitudes toward the cost of “green” products, by race/ethnicity, December 2007

What is an acceptable premium for “green” products?

Figure 39: Willingness to pay extra for “green” products, by age, December 2007

Figure 40: Willingness to pay extra for “green” products, by HH income, race/ethnicity, presence of children, and student status, December 2007

How Do We Know It’s Really Green?

Figure 41: Attitudes toward the effectiveness of “green” shopping, by race/ethnicity, December 2007

More standards needed

“Greenwashing” concerns provide incentives for industry-led standards

Results from Mintel’s Qualitative Survey

Introduction

Figure 42: Descriptions of “green” lifestyle interviewees, January 2008

Environmental concerns

“Green” shopping commonalities in qualitative study

Availability and awareness problematic for “green” shoppers

Figure 43: Availability and awareness of “green” products, by respondent and location, January 2008

Habits are hard to break

Figure 44: “Habit” purchasing, January 2008

Many see link between personal health and planetary health

Figure 45: Respondents’ thoughts about effectiveness and quality of “green” products, January 2008

Product quality and function overriding issues for some

Figure 46: Effectiveness and quality of “green” products, January 2008

Prices need to be competitive

Figure 47: Respondents’ willingness to pay extra for “green” products, January 2008

A “Green” Future

Green market to lose trendiness

Christian conservatives joining the “green” movement

Fair trade and local to become the new “green”

Fair trade

Local

Appendix: HP2 Market Detail

Figure 48: HP2 market detail, 2005

Appendix: Trade Associations

Abstract

The "green" marketplace is one of the fastest growing, most dynamic sectors of the US economy. In this report, Mintel examines the size, scope, and growth of the green consumer marketplace, as well as driving forces that will shape its future. The report keeps an eye toward expected changes sector by sector, as well as short-term and long-term outlooks for the market as a whole.

Mintel explores the current trends and future outlook for eight key sectors of the green consumer marketplace, including personal care products, home building and home improvement supplies, electronics and appliances, automobiles, and travel.

Mintel's exclusive consumer research identifies four types of green consumer: Super Greens, True Greens, Light Greens and Never Greens. A threefold increase in the ranks of the Super Greens and True Greens in just 16 months has driven growth in all sectors of the green marketplace. This report explores the special role of 18 to 24 year olds and college students in adoption of new green product categories, as well as the sometimes surprising influence of demographic factors such as race, ethnicity, education and household income.

In a new take on the green marketplace, Mintel moves beyond demographic categories to explore how green consumers think, identifying the lifestyle choices and personality characteristics that most closely relate to green behavior. These are the insights marketers need to reach out directly to core green lifestyle consumers.

In addition to a broad array of quantitative data presented for this report, Mintel conducted qualitative research with respondents who described themselves as having already made lifestyle changes due to concerns about the environment. Mintel's qualitative research explores the motivations that drive consumers toward green purchases, as well as the barriers to green shopping for different types of consumers, such as price premiums, perceptions of effectiveness and quality, and the critical importance of mainstream distribution.

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