1.
SUMMARYOF
KEYFINDINGS
Accenture Chemicals Global
Consumer Sustainability Survey
2019
Copyright © 2019 Accenture. All rights reserved.

2.
SURVEY
METHODOLOGY
2Copyright © 2019 Accenture. All rights reserved.
Accenture conducted a global quantitative online survey of
6,000 consumers. The purpose of the survey was to identify
consumer purchasing and consumption habits regarding
different types of packaging and products, as well as consumer
views related to recycling and reuse of materials.
Respondents were ages 18 to 70 and covered a broad range
of employment, education and income levels. They also had
primary or shared responsibility for making purchase decisions
in their household for everyday products and services.
The survey was conducted in April 2019 in the following 11
countries: Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia,
Italy, Japan, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Decision
makers for
household
purchases
6,000
respondents,
ages 18-70
Conducted
April 2019
11 countries
across Asia,
Europe and North
America

3.
Consumers care
about the
environment, and
their demand for
sustainable
products is a
driving force
behind the shift to
a circular economy.
3Copyright © 2019 Accenture. All rights reserved.
of consumers buy more
environmentally-friendly products
today than five years ago
72%
plan to buy more environmentally-
friendly products over the next
five years
81%
Source: Accenture Chemicals Global Consumer Sustainability Survey, 2019

4.
Most know that
sending waste to
landfills is harmful
to the environment,
and they believe in
the importance of
reuse and recycling.
4Copyright © 2019 Accenture. All rights reserved. Source: Accenture Chemicals Global Consumer Sustainability Survey, 2019
believe it is important for companies
to design products that are meant to
be reused or recycled
83%
of consumers rate sending waste to
landfills as the disposal method that
is most harmful to the environment
84%

5.
35%
30%
9% 8% 8%
4% 2% 2% 2% 2%
89%
84%
62% 61%
49%
37%
31% 29%
25%
22%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Quality Price Brand Preference Health & safety
certifications
Environmental
impact
Package
functionality
Package material Recyclability/reuse
potential
Shelf appeal
Most important Within top 5
Copyright © 2019 Accenture. All rights reserved. 5
Whilequalityandpricereignsupreme,consumers
doconsidersustainability-relatedfactorswhen
makingpurchases.
When you purchase a product, what do you take into consideration before making your decision?
Source: Accenture Chemicals Global Consumer Sustainability Survey, 2019

6.
Copyright © 2019 Accenture. All rights reserved. 6
Insomecases,consumershavestoppedbuying
productsduetoenvironmentalconcerns.
Have you stopped buying products in any of the industries listed due to environmental concerns?
Source: Accenture Chemicals Global Consumer Sustainability Survey, 2019
23%
16%
11%
8% 8% 8% 7% 5%
58%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Food &
beverage
packaging
Personal care
products
Children's toys Clothing Electronics Construction
materials
Automotive Furnishings No, I have not
stopped buying
products in any
of these
industries
42%

7.
Copyright © 2019 Accenture. All rights reserved. 7
Moreover,whenpurchasingplasticproducts,most
(87%)consumerspreferaneco-friendlyoption.
When purchasing products made from plastic, which of the below do you prefer most?
Source: Accenture Chemicals Global Consumer Sustainability Survey, 2019
48% 48%
29%
24% 24%
12%
1%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
100% recyclable
plastics
Biodegradable
plastics
Plant-based
plastics
Compostable
plastics
Plastics made from
recycled materials
Unsure / I have no
preference
None of the above
87%

8.
Someconsumersareevenwillingtopaymorefor
sustainableproducts.
of consumers are willing to
pay more for a product
that was designed to be
reused or recycled
are willing to pay more for
a product that was made
from recycled materials
50% 36%
Almost 30% of
consumers indicated
that they are not willing
to pay more; however,
they would choose an
environmentally-friendly
product over others, all
else being equal.
Copyright © 2019 Accenture. All rights reserved. 8Source: Accenture Chemicals Global Consumer Sustainability Survey, 2019

9.
of consumers would be willing to
store and take back for refill packaging
containers used in their home
95%
Inadditiontotheirpurchasingdecisions,consumers
aretakingotheractionstosupportsustainability.
have participated in a product
takeback program, with 74%
indicating that participation would
be most encouraged by convenient
returns or incentives
43%
Copyright © 2019 Accenture. All rights reserved. 9Source: Accenture Chemicals Global Consumer Sustainability Survey, 2019

10.
10
WHATDOES
THISMEANFOR
THECHEMICAL
INDUSTRY?

11.
of consumers perceive
plastics to be the least
environmentally-friendly
packaging material
believe that the chemical
industry is least concerned
about the impact it has on the
environment compared with
eight other sectors listed in
the survey
77% 49%
have low confidence in
chemical manufacturers’
communications concerning the
environmental impact of their
products and/or services—
the lowest of all organizations
included in the survey
72%
Copyright © 2019 Accenture. All rights reserved. 11Source: Accenture Chemicals Global Consumer Sustainability Survey, 2019
Thethreatofdisruptionfromthecirculareconomyis
real,exacerbatedbynegativeconsumersentiment.

12.
However, this disruption also brings
opportunity, providing an exciting
path for innovation and growth.
Chemical companies are well equipped to develop
materials and methods that enable and speed the
adoption of circular business models.
Copyright © 2019 Accenture. All rights reserved. 12

13.
As such, with products that constitute the
basic building blocks of most consumer
goods, chemical companies are uniquely
positioned to lead the way as the world
shifts to a circular economy.
Copyright © 2019 Accenture. All rights reserved. 13
The time to act is now—or
risk getting left behind.

14.
Copyright © 2019 Accenture. All rights reserved. 14
The shift in consumer
behavior reinforces the need
for companies to increase
their commitments to
responsible business
practices and embrace the
circular economy.
Jessica Long
Managing Director, North America
Sustainability & Trust Lead,
Accenture Strategy

15.
Copyright © 2019 Accenture. All rights reserved. 15
LEARN
MORE
READ OUR NEWS RELEASE
More than Half of Consumers Would
Pay More for Sustainable Products
Designed to Be Reused or Recycled,
Accenture Survey Finds
Our full report will be
published soon. Stay tuned!

16.
Copyright © 2019 Accenture. All rights reserved. 16
CONNECT
WITHUS
Jessica Long
Managing Director, North America
Sustainability & Trust Lead,
Accenture Strategy
jessica.l.long@accenture.com
Accenture Chemicals
Accenture Strategy
@AccentureChems
@AccentureStrat
www.accenture.com/chemicals
www.accenture.com/strategy