The road to responsible consumerism is a long one - but the economic crisis is a big reason to act differently.

We're gathering friends, family and useful contacts around us.

There's a sense of common cause in adversity.

We're aware of the bigger picture but more concerned at what's happening in our own back yard. Firstly because we feel the direct effects and secondly, because in the scheme of things, they're at least easier to understand - if not to like.

We're already beginning to think more about changing the how, when and where of our purchasing habits.

Tags:  Purchasing habitsGovernmentObamaGreen

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Responsible. Smart. And Cool. These are the three words 13-29 year-olds (the generation known as Millennials) most associate with the Green movement according to a recent survey by New York youth media and youth trends company Generate.

Yet while younger consumers (and particularly the generation currently at school) are better informed and more strident about green issues than any other age group, their knowledge and attitudes often have little bearing on their actions.

The most startling statistic from the Generate report is that given a choice between a brand that has green credentials and a similar one at a lower price, 71 per cent of 13-17 year-olds say they’d go for the cheaper option. The balance swings in entirely the opposite direction for 22-29 year-olds with 63 per cent saying they’d be willing to fork out for a more expensive brand if it supports an environmental cause.

Tags:  ConsumersGreenwashGreenPackagingRecyclingBrandsSustainableResponsible

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