Pandemic Hasn’t Slowed Down Preference for Sustainability

Continuing to offer green and sustainable services is a smart business move for cleaning companies and building service contractors as a survey from Genomatica found that despite all the distractions of the coronavirus pandemic, sustainability is still a top-of-mind issue for consumers, Green Chemicals Blog reports.

The online survey, distributed to 2,000 U.S. adults in June, found that 85% have been thinking about sustainability the same amount or more during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among those thinking about it more, 45% have noticed less traffic, 42% have noticed cleaner air, and 40% have noticed more plastic waste. More than half (56%) of the survey respondents want both the government and brands to prioritize sustainability even while facing other issues. The survey also found:

• 86% of survey respondents believe sustainability will be equally or more important when the pandemic subsides
• Six in 10 (59%) of those who admit being less sustainable during COVID-19 say they don’t like it, with 43% calling it a “necessary evil” and 36% saying they feel guilty about it
• Respondents who have been more sustainable lately cite driving less as the No. 1 reason (68%), followed by buying less consumer goods (54%), throwing fewer things away (42%), not commuting (41%), and flying less (37%).
• More than one-third (37%) of respondents are willing to pay a little more for sustainable products, even during an economic downturn — and across age groups, Generation Z is the most willing (43%).
• Four in five (82%) respondents trust natural-based cleaners to protect against COVID-19.