Burt’s Bees, Whole Foods Perceived Greenest US Brands

A global study on consumer perceptions of green brands and corporate environmental behavior reveals global differences about their top environmental concerns. A key finding shows that while climate change is important across most countries, 30 percent of Brazilians and 26 percent of Indians cite deforestation as the top issue, and in Australia, 68 percent of consumers say it’s important that companies manage water efficiently.

In the United States, energy use is the biggest green issue or problem, although economic concerns are taking precedence over environmental ones with 79 percent of those polled citing greater distress about the economy. Thirty-five percent of respondents say they will spend more on green in the coming year, which is down slightly from last year.

The fifth annual ImagePower Green Brands Survey polled more than 9,000 people in eight countries and was conducted by WPP agencies, Cohn & Wolfe, Landor Associates, Penn Schoen Berland (PSB), and independent strategy consulting firm Esty Environmental Partners.

The survey also reveals that the majority of global consumers plan to spend the same or more money on green products in the coming year, with more than 70 percent of consumers in China, India and Brazil saying they will spend more.

The majority of consumers — over 60 percent — in all countries want to buy from environmentally responsible companies, but the cost of green products continues to be a challenge in developed countries. Selection and labeling are the biggest challenges in developing economies, according to the report.

See more: http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/06/09/climate-change-identified-as-biggest-issue-for-global-consumers/