The Union for Ethical Bio-Trade’s 2019 Biodiversity Barometer finds that that Asian consumer awareness of biodiversity has increased over the last decade.
Most Asian consumers surveyed have more faith in brands “whose commitment to ethical sourcing of biodiversity is verified by independent organizations”.
20 May 2019: A report by the Union for Ethical Bio-Trade (UEBT) shows that the majority of Asian consumers want to see companies protecting biodiversity. The publication finds that Asian youth are better informed about biodiversity than other age groups, and Asian consumers have higher awareness of biodiversity than consumers in the UK, US or Germany.
The research, published in the ‘2019 UEBT Biodiversity Barometer,’ presents findings based on interviews with more than 68,000 consumers over 11 years of age from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Viet Nam. Consumers were asked what they know and understand about biodiversity, and what they expect from brands. The publication was launched at UEBT’s annual ‘Beauty of Sourcing with Respect’ conference, held on 20 May 2019 in Paris, France, gathering 300 executives from the personal care, natural pharmaceutical, and specialty food sectors, and access and benefit sharing (ABS) policymakers.
Asian youth would like companies to inform them about the concrete actions they take to ensure they respect biodiversity and people.
The report finds that Asian consumer awareness of biodiversity has increased over the last decade, with most Asian consumers surveyed saying that they have more faith in brands “whose commitment to ethical sourcing of biodiversity is verified by independent organizations.” According to the data presented, young people aged 16 to 24 are the best informed about biodiversity. Most young consumers said buying products that respect people and biodiversity makes them “feel good,” a trend that is particularly true in China.
According to the publication, Asian youth are also seeking concrete actions from companies, with most saying that they would like companies to inform them about “the concrete actions they take to ensure they respect biodiversity and people when they source the natural ingredients use.”
As in the case of Western countries previously surveyed, in the Republic of Korea and Japan, UEBT’s research finds a gap in consumer confidence that companies are having a positive impact on society, people and biodiversity. Similar to Western countries (37% in 2018), the Republic of Korea and Japan show 45% confidence rates. Consumer confidence that companies are having a positive impact on biodiversity appears to be higher in Viet Nam and China, with 76% and 74% of those surveyed, respectively, feeling confident. [Publication: UEBT Biodiversity Barometer] [CBD Press Release]