UEBT study finds South Korean consumers display high awareness of biodiversity

Results showed that nine in ten consumers say they pay attention to environmental and ethical labels when buying cosmetics products

In comparison to study results from countries such as Brazil and France, where the survey was performed earlier this year, less South Korean consumers say they have heard of biodiversity but more people can define it correctly.

Increased understanding​

According to the 2011 South Korean survey, carried out with the co-operation of 1000 consumers, 73 per cent of those who took part had heard of the term 'biodiversity' and 47 per cent could correctly define it.

"These results from South Korea, taken along with the surveys performed in other countries, reaffirm the idea that biodiversity is a global issue, important in many different cultural settings from Asia to Latin America,"​ UEBT Executive Director Rik Kutsch Lojenga, said.

The results were part of UEBT's Biodiversity Barometer, which is a consumer awareness study focusing on a number of important questions, such as how many people can correctly define biodiversity and how consumers view companies who are sourcing from it.

It was performed in a total of 7 countries (France, Germany, the UK, the US, Brazil, South Korea and Japan) and UEBT states the latest results from South Korea highlight the country is well informed about biodiversity and keen to know more about how companies are sourcing their natural ingredients.

Sources of awareness​

The study asks how people heard of biodiversity, with television programs and documentaries named as one of the biggest sources of awareness.

Websites and blogs are also particularly in raising awareness, particularly in South Korea according to results, much more so than other countries involved in the survey.

As with many of their counterparts in France, Germany, the UK, the US and Brazil, South Koreans would like companies to be more transparent with their sourcing practices.

85 per cent would like to be better informed about how companies are sourcing natural ingredients and 83 per cent would stop buying products if they knew the brand did not respect the environment or implement ethical trading practices.