The economic and social impacts of Covid-19 are prompting people in the Middle East to shift their consumption habits towards eco-conscious brands. According to PwC’s Global Consumer Insights Survey 2021, this behaviour is set to outlast the pandemic, requiring non-sustainable business models to adapt quickly.
The survey found that 65% of consumers in the Middle East are becoming more eco-friendly as a result of Covid-19. And what's more, the region is out-pacing the rest of the world, with a staggering 75% saying they buy from companies that are environmentally conscious, compared with 54% globally; and 72% choosing products with a traceable and transparent origin, versus 55% globally.
With this push towards transparency in shopping behaviours, we can expect to see more innovations in the vein of Evrythng, a start-up with a mission to give all items a unique ID, enter the region.
Strategic opportunity
Eco-conscious mindsets aren't the domain of rich Westerners. As these behaviours spread in the Middle East, brands will need to change how they communicate their sustainable credentials to shoppers