Despite the growing amount of information available on environmental issues, the Brazilian public’s willingness to adopt eco-friendly consumer behavior has declined in recent years, according to a survey by the Trade Federation of the State of Rio de Janeiro. A survey conducted in 2007 found that 65 percent of respondents said they took environmental protection into account when making decisions on purchases. In 2011, that figure had dropped to 57 percent. The proportion of people who said they do not consume transgenic products decreased from 27 to 20 percent over the same period.

"Organic products are more expensive, and the survey demonstrated a correlation between buying power and environmentally aware consumption habits. In categories A and B (which represent the highest incomes), 39 percent buy environmentally friendly products, while in categories C and D, this figure drops to 25 and 19 percent, respectively,” said João Carlos Gomes, research director at the Trade Federation.

The government needs to take action through tax incentives in order to change this situation, Gomes told Tierramérica.