Two out of three consumers in Austria expect drugstore retailers to be committed to sustainability. This was the result of a study conducted by the Austrian drugstore chain BIPA. In addition to affordable, sustainable products, the reduction of packaging is particularly important to those surveyed. In order to make their own contribution to environmental protection, more than half of customers say they use reusable bags, buy products with natural ingredients and without microplastics and pay attention to the packaging. Many shoppers are now opting for reusable packaging and refill systems. According to the study, it is also important for 44% to buy products from Austria. Regional products are generally strongly associated with sustainability.

Own brands as pioneers

According to the BIPA study, price is particularly relevant alongside sustainability. Seven out of ten consumers expect discount campaigns and low prices for environmentally friendly products. “Sustainable consumption must not be too expensive - otherwise we exclude population groups that are forced to make price-conscious purchases,” says BIPA Managing Director Andreas Persigehl. 80 percent of all products under the BIPA brand “bi good” are produced in Austria and are up to 75 percent cheaper than comparable branded products. The own-brand products are free from synthetic fragrances and colorants, silicones, parabens, mineral oils and hormonally active additives and are mostly vegan. In addition, 100% of bottles, 90% of folding cartons and 60% of tubes are made from recycled materials. Many items also do not require any over-packaging.

Backpacks for the big cities

BIPA has been labeling products with green price labels in accordance with the Greenpeace guideline for reliable quality seals since 2021. “Since last year, we have also had reusable backpack bags in our stores because we are seeing more and more customers doing their shopping by bike, especially in cities like Vienna,” reports Persigehl. Water is also playing an increasingly important role in drugstore retail as a resource that needs to be protected. BIPA has more and more solid products in its range, especially cleaning and cleansing products as well as shower gels and shampoos. Compared to liquid products, they require up to 90 percent less water. 1160 people were surveyed for the representative study. BIPA is part of REWE International and is Austria's largest drugstore retailer with 600 stores.

Source: BIPA