Gen Z cares about sustainability more than anyone else – and is starting to make others feel the same

Generation Z shows the most concern for the planet’s well-being and influences others to make sustainability-first buying decisions, according to new research.

GenZ are people born between the nineties and the noughties – roughly spanning 1995 to 2010 – and three-quarters of them prefer to buy sustainably rather than to go for brand names. That’s according to respondents in a survey of US consumer attitudes on sustainable shopping by First Insight and the Baker Retailing Center at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Labelled the first “digital natives” by McKinsey, but also known as the TikTok generation, most members of Gen Z are now in their mid-20s, are generally tech-savvy and are accustomed to making informed purchasing decisions.

As champions of sustainable consumer practices, Generation Z’s views also influence other age groups to change their buying behaviour.

Across the generational divide, consumers are prepared to spend more on sustainable products now than two years ago, comparisons with data from an earlier survey show.

Spending on sustainable brands and products by Generation X – those born between the mid-1960s and mid-1970s – has increased by 24% since 2019. And the behaviour of other groups has followed a similar trend.

Gen Z’s influence has led to it being labelled “the most disruptive generation ever” by the Bank of America, a CNBC article reports.

In our evermore connected world, consumer awareness is on the rise - including what, how and where we consume. And change is happening.

Saying no to single-use plastics is the most common sustainable lifestyle change among UK consumers, a 2021 survey by Deloitte shows. More than 60% have reduced their use of throwaway plastics.

Almost two-fifths of those surveyed have reduced the number of flights they take, and the same proportion said they are buying fewer new goods.

Just over a third of respondents said they choose brands demonstrating environmentally sustainable practices or values, while 28% have stopped buying from brands with poor ethical or sustainability values.

So what’s preventing more people from switching to more sustainable lifestyles?

The main reason for not embracing positive change – given by two-fifths of UK respondents – is a lack of interest, followed by a segment of 16% who said it was too costly, and a further 15% who want more information before considering lifestyle changes.

As the climate crisis continues to impact our lives, awareness of the need to act sustainably is growing among consumers of all ages, albeit at different rates. Brands and retailers who respond to consumer demand to think and act more sustainably will be better placed to succeed in an increasingly uncertain future.