The Visible Shift to Sustainability 

Sustainability in retail is becoming increasingly critical, driven by both consumer demand and concerns about climate change’s effect on business operations. This shift to sustainability is being measured, and the numbers are clear: Investing effort into promoting and celebrating sustainable practices in your eyecare practice can lead to retail success, boosting practice performance and revenue all while being kinder to the planet. As this trend toward sustainability persists and expands, businesses that align with these values stand to secure greater success.

Here, some key statistics that reflect the shift toward more sustainable products and practices in the retail arena:

→ Looking ahead to the next three years, 70% of C-suite-level business leaders (CxOs) expect the effects of climate change to significantly impact operations. As a result, 85% of CxOs have increased sustainability efforts in the last year—up from 75% in 2023. Among the top actions taken in 2024, CxOs are using more sustainable materials (51%), working to increase energy efficiency (49%), and developing new environmentally friendly products and services (48%). —“Deloitte 2024 CxO Sustainability Report”

→ Eighty-five percent of consumers have personally felt the effects of climate change in their daily lives. In response, 46% are purchasing more sustainable products and are willing to pay an average of 9.7% more for goods that are sustainably sourced or produced. —“Voice of the Consumer Survey 2024,” PwC (2024)

→ Generation Z and millennial consumers are significantly influenced by sustainability, being 27% more likely than older generations to support brands that prioritize social and environmental responsibility. —“Research: Consumers’ Sustainability Demands Are Rising,” Harvard Business Review (2023)

→ Consumers are shifting toward products that make environmental, social,
and governance (ESG) claims, as evidenced over the last five years by a 28% cumulative growth in products making ESG-related claims versus 20% cumulative growth in products boasting no ESG-related claims. —“Consumers care about sustainability—and back it up with their wallets,” McKinsey & Company (2023)