Two-thirds of Americans want more sustainable options — and they’re looking to companies to help them meet their values. At the same time, 84% of consumers believe companies won’t act on environmental issues unless forced by law.
In this edition of Eco Pulse®, we dig into the tension between consumer expectations and corporate action — exploring friction, trust dynamics and generational perspectives around sustainability in the marketplace.
Explore each chapter below to uncover the insights shaping consumer expectations today. And don’t miss out on our exclusive three-step Sustainability Communications Blueprint. (You can download it on the right side of this page.) It’s designed to help brands build trust, communicate credibly and earn a place in consumers’ carts.
- Chapter One: A Cart Filled with Tradeoffs
- Chapter Two: Overcrowding on Aisle Green
- Chapter Three: Shopping for Values, From Ages 18 to 80+
Methodologies
In 2025, ERM’s Marketing & Communications Agency surveyed consumers around the globe with our annual Eco Pulse® study. The 2025 online survey was fielded from July 14 – 25, 2025, surveying a total of 2,060 of those residing in the United States.
In the overall analysis, the data was weighted by global subregions to be globally representative. The overall margin of error is +/- 1.2%; U.S. margin of error is +/- 2.2%.