Consumers: The Missing Link in a Low-Carbon Economy
In recent years, there has been increased focus on regulations to change the behavior of businesses and facilitate the transition from a fossil-fuel economy to a low-carbon economy. At the same time, many businesses have reduced operating costs by optimizing resource consumption in the production processes. These regulatory and cost-reducing initiatives are helpful, but businesses typically neglect one powerful tool: consumers.
Making Human Biases Work in Favor of Sustainability
In recent decades, social scientists have identified a long list of human biases that distort our ability to make sound decisions. The issue of climate change touches upon quite a few of those. In this article, we present five biases that significantly complicate consumers’ adoption of environmentally friendly solutions. By thoroughly understanding these biases, businesses can turn human shortcomings into a source of competitive advantage while working for a greener tomorrow.
Money Is Not Enough to Make Consumers Go Green
Money does matter but in the case of making consumers go green, there are other and more emotional levers that ought to be explored with the same interest and attention, as has been the case with financial incentives. Among the myriad of examples of ads and endorsements of energy-saving devices, products or services that focus on cashing in on cost-savings, we have picked two: insulation and transport.
Why Surveys Often Paint a False Green Picture of Consumers
Surveys can be a powerful method for validating consumer insights, but it’s unwise to rely on them when it comes to understanding the consumer impact of environmentally friendly products and the barriers that prevent people from going green.