Green a growing consideration for electronics shoppers

By Wendy Wilson -- Video Business, 12/23/2008

Dec. 23 | One-third of consumers plan to make a green electronics purchase in the next 24 months, according to a new study from the Consumer Electronics Assn.

Although a product's price and features remain the top two concerns for shoppers, the trade association's research shows that those same consumers also are beginning to factor in the environmental impact of any product they plan to purchase.

The study, "Going Green: An Examination of the Green Trend and What it Means to Consumers and the CE Industry," indicates lower consumer sensitivity to how green an electronics purchase will be as compared to one made for household products or cars, but that looks to be changing.

Eighty-nine percent of homes expressed a desire for their next TV to be more energy efficient, for example, and 53% said they would be willing to pay more for TVs that promised an environmental benefit of some kind.

The study, an online survey of 960 adults, also pointed manufacturers toward improving their promotion of products' green attributes. Beyond the EPA's Energy Star logo, an indication of electronics' energy efficiency, survey respondents said they would like additional logos or descriptions on packaging that would clearly spell out how an item meets or exceeds environmental standards.

CEA member companies can receive the entire study free of charge. The cost to non-members is $999 online (myCEA.CE.org).

« Back | Print