Sustainability is Driving Consumers' Purchase Decisions
It's All About Your Actions & Reputation

The meteoric rise of fast-fashion has brought with it a serious philosophical for consumers: should they consider mass produced goods' impact on labor practices and the environment?

Shoppers are increasingly considering sustainability when making purchases, according to research conducted by CGS in November 2018, which found that 68% of US internet users deemed product sustainability an important factor in making a purchase.

Some retailers are paying attention to consumer demands for a better understanding of issues that once were likely ignored, such as ethical supply chains. For example, the fashion retailer Everlane has incorporated a policy of "radical transparency" into its brand identity by sharing the details of product markups, sourcing practices and manufacturing facilities with shoppers.

GS's survey revealed that younger shoppers seemed more attuned to the ecological impact of their purchases. The poll found that 68% of those ages 18 to 24 had made an eco-friendly purchase sometime during the preceding year and were willing to pay higher prices for sustainable products when compared with the general public.

CGS claims that transparency around the materials and development of products can increase consumer loyalty. "Today's buyers are driven by more than price—they're looking for brands that align with their own values and needs," said Paul Magel, president of CGS' business applications division.  retail.emarketer.com
 

Editor's Note: The Growing Importance of Sustainability & LP's Role Long Term
The Triggers That Brought Us Here - Fast Fashion Played a Role

When looking over just the last few years and seeing the impact of the Bangladesh garment factory fire that killed 112 workers in 2012, the 2013 Bangladesh Rana Plaza - garment building collapse that killed 1,100 workers, the 37 call center agents working for U.S. owned Research Now Survey Sampling International (SSI), that's even worked with the NRF in the past on surveys, killed in the NCCC Davao shopping mall fire in the Philippines the Saturday before Christmas 2017.   

All of which have led to dozens of criminal and murder charges, a Walmart led Environmental Health and Safety academy in Bangladesh and more than 200 apparel companies from 20 countries signing a five year - Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh to prevent similar tragedies from happening.

So, what does that catastrophe have to do with consumers in the US? A number of Western companies, from Nike to Ivanka Trump to H&M, source labor from Bangladesh. Specifically, Zara, Walmart, Benetton, and Mango had all produced apparel in Rana Plaza factories. And more than 120,000 pounds of clothing from The Children’s Place had been produced at the plaza during the eight months before the building fell.

As a result of the accord, 97,000 of 132,000 hazards at factories in Bangladesh have been eliminated. An additional 12,000 hazards have reportedly been addressed.

Since the fall of Rana Plaza, garment worker deaths haven’t been completely eliminated, according to the ILRF, but they have dropped precipitously. Roughly 40 Bangladeshi garment workers have died, mostly in fires, since the disaster. Compare this to the 2006-2010 period, when nearly 500 garment workers were killed in fires and similar circumstances in Bangladesh.  racked.com

The Government of Bangladesh has said that the Accord will not be extended at the end of its five-year term.[10] wikipedia.org

The Intersection Between Sustainability and Loss Prevention