In a recent worldwide survey of most and least eco-friendly consumers, India and Brazil topped the list, while US came last. [Science Daily] (tip Spee via email)
img: via AFP
I can’t speak for Brazil but given the amount of pollution encountered in Indian cities, this comes as a surprise. But this is how this poll was measured.
One thousand people in each country answered questions that measured their behavior in the areas of housing, transportation, food and consumption of goods; each respondent earned a score that reflected the environmental impact of his or her consumption patterns, which included size and energy-efficiency of residence, commuting mode and distance and use of fresh water, among dozens of other measures. Consumers were then assigned a Greendex score (a measure of the relative environmental sustainability of their consumption patterns) out of 100. Consumers in Brazil and India scored highest; U.S. consumers scored lowest.
And this is how India and Brazil featured at the top, this survey featured actual consumers and not businesses. Following the trend, consumers in developing countries showed more concern towards the environment than consumers in developed countries.
The findings show that consumers in Brazil and India tie for the highest Greendex score for environmentally sustainable consumption at 60 points each. They are followed by consumers in China (56.1), Mexico (54.3), Hungary (53.2) and Russia (52.4). Among consumers in wealthy countries, those in Great Britain, Germany and Australia each have a Greendex score of 50.2, those in Spain register a score of 50.0 and Japanese respondents, 49.1. U.S. consumers have the lowest Greendex score at 44.9. The other lowest-scoring consumers are Canadians with 48.5 and the French with 48.7.
Many of the respondents in developing countries admitted to environment-related health concerns influencing their outlook towards eco-friendliness. Economics and practicality also played a big part in contributing to eco-friendly lifestyles.
People in developing countries are more likely to:
* Live in smaller residences;
* Prefer green products and own relatively few appliances or expensive electronic devices;
* Walk, cycle, or use public transportation, and choose to live close to their most common destination.
By contrast, consumers in developed countries, who have more environmentally friendly options to choose from, often don’t make those choices.
* They have larger homes and are more likely to have air-conditioning.
* They generally own more cars, drive alone most frequently and use public transport infrequently.
* They are least likely to buy environmentally friendly products and to avoid environmentally unfriendly products.
You can now calculate your own Greendex score by taking an abbreviated survey. [link]
Whenever I can, I attempt to recycle, wash my clothes in cold water, use reusable bags for groceries and other miscellaneous conservancy steps. Yet, when I took this quiz, I scored a whopping 46, only slightly above the average American consumer. Shows how far as a nation we (USA) have to go.
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