Descartes Systems Group recently released its global consumer report, ”2023 Home Delivery Sustainability Report: Consumers Expect More.” Among Swedish respondents, 2 out of 3 (65 percent) of customers are interested in carbon-neutral home deliveries, while only 3 out of 10 think it is important for deliveries to be made using electric vehicles.
The study shows that 37 percent of Swedish consumers regularly base their purchases on the environmental impact of an individual product or the manufacturer as a whole. At the Nordic level, that figure is 29 percent. According to the report, factors that may influence customers’ assessments of environmental impact include, for example, the amount of recycled or biodegradable material, the type of packaging, or the company’s sustainability communications. Reviews and media coverage can also have an impact.
– Consumers have long been aware of the environmental and climate impact of products. This report confirms that these factors are increasingly influencing purchasing decisions, and we see, in particular, that consumers value green delivery methods. “Companies need to continue working on their entire supply chain and focus on how goods are delivered to customers. Choosing the right mode of transportation and optimizing routes are two key pieces of the puzzle for staying competitive,” says Lars Persson, Nordic Sales Manager at Descartes.
The global consumer report ”2023 Home Delivery Sustainability Report: Consumers Expect More,” produced by Descartes Systems Group in collaboration with SAPIO Research, surveyed 8,000 consumers from nine countries in Europe and two countries in North America. In Sweden, 250 consumers participated in the study. Overall, the study shows that 6 out of 10 consumers are interested in using environmentally friendly modes of transportation for deliveries, and 27 percent have stopped purchasing products from a manufacturer that uses delivery methods that may negatively impact the environment.
– Among the Swedish respondents in the study, we see that it will become increasingly important for individual consumers to be able to access the carbon footprint of a specific delivery. Currently, 32 percent believe this is important, but in five years, that figure will double to 64 percent. “Companies involved in the delivery of goods and freight need to stay on their toes and meet customer needs by implementing clear reporting of the carbon footprint of their shipments,” says Lars Persson.
