11 March 2005

BRUSSELS – Belgian shoppers are increasingly opting for environmentally friendly reusable shopping bags and using fewer disposal ones, a new study has found.

A survey by consumer research group Crioc found a 9 percent jump in the use of reusable sacks between 2002 and 2003, and a 5 percent increase the following year.

At the same time, the study found a 36 percent decrease in the use of disposal bags in 2004.

However, the number of individual shoppers using reusable bags (40 percent) was only marginally higher than the number using disposables (37 percent).

Interestingly, researchers found that shoppers' preferences varied backed on socio-demographic factors as well as the type of store visited.

Shoppers age 18 to 29 are more likely to use plastic disposable bags, while those who live in the suburbs were less likely to.

Dutch speakers were more likely to take home their groceries in baskets or boxes, while their francophone compatriots prefer plastic.

Some 1,293 individuals took part in the survey.

For more information, see www.crioc.be.

[Copyright Expatica 2004]

Subject: Belgian news