Concern with environment reflects in Brazilian consumption habits

A survey carried out by the national industry confederation CNI, and released on Friday (Nov. 18), shows that 74 percent of Brazilians say they are "environmentally conscious consumers." Among them, 30 percent say they always adopt habits that prioritize the preservation of the environment, and 44 percent say they sometimes do so.

It also shows people's growing concern with the environment when they go shopping. Brands that associate themselves with sustainable practices are often well-liked by consumers.

"The way the goods they consume are produced has influenced the choice for brands that adopt more sustainable practices," the survey reads. According to it, half of the consumers check whether the product was produced in an environmentally sustainable way - 24 percent check always and 26 percent check most of the time. In 2019, a similar survey indicated that only 19 percent said they always check this information, while 19 percent said they do so sometimes.

Waste

Seven in ten Brazilians say they "always avoid" wasting water, while 20 percent say they do so "most of the time." For 53 percent, reusing water is a "frequent habit". For 20 percent, this practice is adopted "sometimes".

As for food waste, 73 percent said they "always avoid wasting food", while 16 percent adopt this practice "mostly".

Regarding unnecessary energy expenditures, 65 percent say they always take measures to avoid waste, and 21 percent say they do it most of the time.

The reuse of product packaging is another common practice: 46 percent say they always reuse it, while 22 percent do it sometimes.

The survey Portraits of Society: Sustainable Habits and Conscious Consumption interviewed, between October 8 and 12, 2,019 people aged 16 and up in the 27 Brazilian states. The margin of error is 2 percentage points up or down, with a confidence interval of 95 percent.