Good Housekeeping Environmental Reader Survey Results Announced Today at Good and Green Conference in NYC. Paints a Vivid Picture of Today's Green Consumer

The Magazine That Created the Green Good Housekeeping Seal Reveals Survey Results That Show Consumers are Still Interested in Protecting the Environment

One of my favorite magazines, Good Housekeeping, is dedicated to educating readers about living a greener lifestyle and they're even responsible for creating the Green Good Housekeeping Seal.  Gotta love GH! Well today at the Good and Green Conference in New York City, a two-day environmental conference co-sponsored by Good Housekeeping, GH announced results from a recent environmental survey that was sent to 3,000 Good Housekeeping readers and paints a vivid picture of today's green living consumer. 

From environmental concerns to recommending products that actually work as they say they will, Good Housekeeping is dedicated to protecting and educating consumers.  In response to consumer demand for guidance in sorting through a cluttered marketplace of green claims, the brand created the Green Good Housekeeping Seal.  The Green Good Housekeeping Seal is designed to set a mainstream bar for consumers who wish to live a greener lifestyle.  As the environmental extension of the primary Seal, the Seal is a perfect solution for sorting through greenwashing claims.  

BUYING GREEN IS STILL IMPORTANT:

Key findings from the GH survey show that concern about the environment is top of mind and influences daily behaviors and decision-making:

• 90% of respondents said they are concerned with improving the environment and 40% said they are “very” concerned. 
• 91% think being eco-friendly is something everyone should be concerned with.
• 85% think the world would be a better place if everyone lived eco-friendly lives.
• 84% think the environment is a serious issue and should be a priority for everyone.
• 83% of respondents said they have made changes to lead an eco-friendly lifestyle. 

Good Housekeeping readers predict their purchasing decisions will only get more environmentally focused over time:

• 88% of respondents seek out and purchase eco-friendly products.
• 73% of respondents said they use or plan to use natural cleaning products with minimal or no chemicals.
• 80% of respondents always turn off the lights when leaving a room
• 69% of respondents always recycle paper, plastic, glass, etc.
• 66% of respondents always turn off the water when brushing their teeth.
• 62% of respondents always purchase energy-efficient appliances.
• 55% of respondents always use low-energy/compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Attention is paid to advertising with green claims - yet folks are weary of greenwashing:

• 84% of respondents said they pay attention to advertisers with an environmental message.
• 79% think eco-friendly claims made by some products are exaggerated.
• 28% think that if an ad says a product is eco-friendly, it really is.

Good Housekeeping readers acknowledge needing information to lead greener lives:

•  72% said they would do more for the environment if they knew how...hint - check in here each day!!
• Only 57% said they have the information they need to be personally involved in doing more for the environment...uh yea, so hope they find us or any of the awesome bloggers and sites out there in their virtual communities as well as in their real communities.

Good Housekeeping readers expect companies to be committed to practices:

• 62% think it’s very important that an ethical brand should treat its employees fairly.
• 60% think it’s very important that companies produce products that can be safely recycled or disposed of.
• 58% think it’s very important that companies use environmentally-friendly packaging for their products. 
• 58% think it’s very important that companies use environmentally-friendly ingredients in their products.
• 68% of respondents are very likely to tell others if they discover that a company is being unethical and irresponsible.

Good Housekeeping’s online Environmental Survey was sent to 3,000 readers and they had a 29% return rate.  The folks who responded were, no big surprise here,  96.5% female, 3.5% male.  The median age was 47.24, 74% are married, 57.8% have 4 or fewer children in the household and 88.6% have children under 18 years of age.  The median household income was $61,131 and a whopping 72% own a home.  

P.S.- I am really glad that you stopped by our Environmental Booty Blog and I hope you have learned or shared a thing or two.  I hope that , now that you've found us,  you won't lose us!  You can join our green living online community, subscribe to our posts,  download our community toolbar or Tweet with me on Twitter to stay in touch!  - Shane*