More than nine people out of 10 have adopted more sustainable habits, according to a survey conducted by Apiccaps, the Portuguese footwear association, in partnership with the Catholic University of Portugal.
The survey, which involved 1,531 consumers from more than 50 countries, had 90.9 percent respondents claiming to have adopted more sustainable habits in the past five years, while 9.1 percent have not.
“The results demonstrate that sustainability has moved from being a niche issue to becoming a dominant criterion in consumer choices. Environmental awareness is now a decisive factor for the overwhelming majority of customers, with a direct impact on the fashion and footwear sector,” Apiccaps said.
According to the survey, almost half (48.1 percent) of consumers highlighted the search for more sustainable footwear as their main concern. This is followed by reducing consumption (26.6 percent), repairing shoes (15.5 percent) and donating shoes (9.8 percent), “confirming a cultural shift around the value, longevity, and circularity of products,” it added.
