'Green' Housewares Consumers Growing in Importance: Mintel

CHICAGO -- So-called “green consumers” will grow in importance to the housewares market, said David Lockwood, director U.S. research, Mintel International Group, here, during the International Home and Housewares show here this week. Relative to home goods, Lockwood reported that 12% of those surveyed regularly buy green products; 68% buy them sometimes - “usually when it‘s easy,” he said - and 20% never buy such items. Noting that consumer research is sometimes skewed by people who exaggerate their level of purchases, Lockwood said this isn‘t the case with green consumers. “The green consumer is a very committed consumer. They actually do buy what they say they buy.” As a result, research such as Mintel‘s “has a greater weight than you might think.” -- Dan Alaimo