Research Series

Sustainability in Retail

Learn how meeting consumer demand for sustainability can drive profits

In partnership with the Baker Retailing Center at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, we surveyed both consumers and executives in a series of studies aimed at answering key sustainability questions facing business leaders today. Our findings reveal striking disconnects and untapped opportunities that can help you develop profitable sustainability initiatives.

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We Discovered a Profound Disconnect

Consumers desperately want more sustainable purchasing options and ESG initiatives from the retailers they patronize. Executives understand that there is a consumer desire for ESG & sustainability, but profoundly misunderstand how to meet consumer needs.

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Answering the Big Questions

Our collection of reports answer some of the biggest questions retailers have about consumer desire for sustainability and how it influences their purchase decisions. We explore all of the following and more.

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Study 1

How Are Sustainable Practices Impacting Shopping Habits?

  • How much more is each generation willing to pay for sustainable products?
  • Which is more important: Sustainable practices or brand recognition?
  • What does sustainability mean to the average consumer?
  • How does the personal definition of sustainable retail change for each generation?
  • How important is sustainable packaging in purchase decisions?
  • Which generation and gender are most likely to make purchase decisions based on personal values?
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Study 2

Exploring the Resale, Recommerce, Rental Peer-to-Peer and Upcycling Marketplaces

  • Why are consumers turning to resale / recommerce?
  • What are the most popular product categories to purchase on the secondhand market?
  • What are pricing expectations for secondhand market?
  • Who is doing the most selling on the secondhand market?
  • Which generations’ market shares are growing fastest in resale / recommerce marketplace?
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Study 3

The Sustainability Disconnect Between Consumers and Retail Executives

In this study, we surveyed retail executives and compared their understanding of consumer expectation vs the realities of the marketplace.

The results show a profound disconnect that is leading to a wide-open marketplace and missed opportunity from brands to fill a consumer need.

  • What are the biggest disconnects between executives and consumers?

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Learn what consumers want and how meeting those expectations can drive your business forward.

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How First Insight Is Helping Retailers and Manufacturers Meet Consumer Demand for Sustainability

We are helping companies all over the world step up their sustainability and ESG initiatives. First Insight’s platform helps brands and retailers reduce waste by using digital product testing and predictive analytics.

Keep thousands of pounds of waste out of landfills while saving time and money. Eliminate unnecessary product development cycles. Our toolset will tell you which products your customers want, and more importantly, which ones they don’t.

Why First Insight
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OUR METHODOLOGY

First Insight’s findings are based on the results of U.S. retail executive and consumer studies conducted in partnership with the Baker Retailing Center at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania using First Insight’s InsightSuite platform. The executive data was collected from a sample of 51 retail senior-level business executives in October 2021.

The consumer study of more than 1,000 respondents was completed through proprietary sample sources among panels who participated online.