Lisbon, Jan. 27, 2025 (Lusa) - According to a study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) released on Monday, most people in Portugal are willing to pay more for more sustainable options in essential product categories such as energy, food, hygiene, and clothing Among the various product categories, energy stood out in 2024, where 57% of those surveyed said they were willing to pay extra for sustainability, which represents a growth of 15 percentage points compared to 2023.

Furthermore, the categories of food (56%), hygiene products (55%) and clothing and accessories (53%) are those in which respondents said they were most willing to pay extra for sustainability.

At the bottom of the list were luxury goods (18%) and toys and games (29%).

The analysis also concluded that the Portuguese are willing to pay around 10% more for sustainability in any product category.

Only 32% of those surveyed said they often consider the environmental impact in their decisions, five percentage points less than the European average. Still, this proportion rises to 41% in adults over 64, who "show a greater awareness of this issue".

Additionally, 12% of those surveyed acknowledged not making sustainable decisions, two percentage points more than in the previous year, and one in 10 respondents said they were not familiar with the impact of their choices.

"Although in theory there is this availability, in practice many Portuguese still don't translate this intention into concrete actions at the time of purchase, often due to financial constraints or lack of information," said Carlos Elavai, BCG's managing director in Lisbon, in a statement.

The "Consumer Sentiment Survey" is based on a survey of 1,000 Portuguese in mainland Portugal, conducted between 6 and 20 August 2024. It included 38 questions about their consumption habits in 2024.

MPE/ADB // ADB.

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