Consumers demand CO2 labeling of products
Three out of four consumers in the Nordics and Poland place great importance on products being made from recycled materials. At the same time, a majority are willing to adjust their consumption to reduce their climate impact. This is evident in Stena Recycling's new consumer survey, part of the Circular Initiative collaboration, which will be livestreamed from the grand event at Münchenbryggeriet in Stockholm on November 14th.
In Stena Recycling's extensive report, Circular Voice, 5,000 consumers in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Poland have participated. Consumers have shared their thoughts on recycled products, materials, and product lifespans. The goal of the survey is to provide insights to support companies and stakeholders in their circular efforts.
A common theme among respondents is the willingness to live and consume more circularly in the future. A majority (57 percent) are willing to change their consumption habits in the future to reduce their climate impact. Something that could facilitate this ambition is the disclosure of a product's total carbon emissions, which is demanded by more than half (58 percent) of consumers.
- Three out of four (76 percent) place great importance on companies using recycled materials in products.
- More than half of consumers (58 percent) think it is important for a product to indicate the total carbon emissions throughout its lifecycle.
- 57 percent of those surveyed are willing to change their consumption habits partially or entirely to reduce their climate impact. Of these, 16 percent are willing to change their consumption entirely.
Consumers drive demand for sustainable transparency
"Consumers today place a great emphasis on the sustainability of products and desire greater transparency regarding the actual climate footprint of products throughout their lifespan. The fact that a majority demands a wider range of sustainable products also sends clear signals about what manufacturing companies and businesses should prioritize going forward. Companies that can expand their range of products that clearly disclose the lifecycle carbon emissions have a lot to gain in the future,"
- Anna Sundell, Head of Sustainability & Communications at Stena Recycling Sweden.
About Circular Initiative
This year marks the fifth time that Circular Initiative is being held, bringing together innovative leaders from industry, technology, business, academia, and politics. This year's theme is Scaling Up, which means realizing bold ideas and initiating the production of promising prototypes. In simple terms, it's time to take the leap into the loop and make circularity a profitable business. On the stage this year, you will see companies such as Investor AB, Electrolux, ABB, and Alfa Laval sharing their insights and challenges from recent years. New partners like Outokumpu and Vestas will also share their challenges and collaborations.
About the Survey
5,064 consumers aged 18-65 in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Poland participated in the survey conducted by Origo Group in May 2023. On November 14th, the complete Circular Voice 2023 report will be presented during the Circular Initiative conference.
About Stena Recycling
Stena Recycling plays a pivotal role in the transition to a circular economy by providing recycling services and comprehensive solutions for efficient resource management. With nearly 3,000 dedicated employees and 166 facilities in eight markets, Stena Recycling annually handles nearly 6 million tons of waste and end-of-life products from over 100,000 customers across various industries. The recycled raw materials, including ferrous and non-ferrous metals, plastic, and paper, are resold as feedstock for the production of new products. Stena Recycling operates in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Poland, Italy, Germany, and the USA. Stena Recycling is a part of the Stena Metall Group.
How important is it to you that a product indicates the total CO2 emissions throughout its life cycle?
1 - Not at all important
5 - Very important
|
1 |
8% |
|
2 |
9% |
|
3 |
25% |
|
4 |
32% |
|
5 |
26% |
To what extent are you willing to change your consumption of products to reduce climate impact?
1 - Do not adjust at all
5 - Adjust completely
|
1 |
4% |
|
2 |
7% |
|
3 |
31% |
|
4 |
41% |
|
5 |
16% |
How important is it to you that companies use recycled materials in products?
1 - Not at all
5 - Very important
|
1 |
3% |
|
2 |
4% |
|
3 |
17% |
|
4 |
34% |
|
5 |
42% |
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