Akeneo, the Product Experience (PX) leader, today published the results from its latest PX Pulse survey focused on consumers’ growing interest in sustainable shopping options and re-commerce. Sustainability has quickly become an expectation that consumers actively evaluate at the point of purchase, and Akeneo’s latest research reveals that transparency around how products are made and how the environmental factor directly increases trust. At the same time, unclear or missing sustainability information introduces friction that can derail buying decisions altogether for nearly three-quarters of consumers.
The survey, which examined how consumers engage with sustainability and re-commerce options across their shopping journey, reveals a marketplace where values, price and product quality collide, making clear, accurate product information a competitive advantage.
These findings indicate that a critical threshold on brand transparency has now been crossed. The research shows that 41% of consumers now expect brands to proactively disclose how products are made and their environmental impact, while another 24% expect that information to be available on demand. Together, this confirms a clear majority of shoppers now view sustainability and sourcing details as a built-in part of the product experience.
That expectation directly shapes trust; nearly three-quarters of consumers (72%) say strong supply chain transparency at least moderately increases their trust in a brand, signalling that detailed, credible product information has become a decisive confidence and loyalty driver at the point of purchase.
Sustainability considerations have also become a routine part of how consumers evaluate and decide on a purchase. More than three-quarters (77%) of shoppers report that they look for sustainability information at least sometimes when shopping, with 13% always looking and 30% often looking. When asked where they source this type of product information, product packaging (58%) is the top choice for consumers looking for sustainable information; however, most consumers are also looking online. Consumers also look to the website they are purchasing from (36%), the product detail page (34%), online reviews (26%) and social media (14%) when searching for sustainability information. Regardless of where or how consumers shop, brands and retailers need to make sure information is available, updated and consistent across all platforms.
While price (61%) and product quality or durability (52%) remain the most influential factors in purchasing decisions, sustainability is increasingly considered alongside brand reputation and ethical practices. In fact, 90% of consumers indicate they prioritise sustainable shopping to some degree, placing pressure on brands to ensure sustainability data is accurate, accessible and easy to understand.
When it comes to the type of sustainability information shoppers expect, materials used (61%), where a product was made (58%), and environmental impact (42%) are top of mind. These findings highlight the growing importance of structured, attribute-level sustainability data within product information systems.
At the same time, the survey reveals that missing or unclear sustainability information can derail purchases. Nearly half of consumers say they are less likely to buy or more likely to switch brands when sustainability details are incomplete, directly impacting their loyalty.
However, missing product information remains the largest barrier to conversion overall. Size, fit or compatibility details (50%), materials information (40%), and visuals (35%) are the most likely gaps to stop a purchase, emphasising that sustainability efforts cannot succeed without complete, consistent and accurate product data and information.
Akeneo’s survey also points to a shift toward re-commerce. 60% of consumers say their interest in sustainability and/or re-commerce has increased over the past year, with 37% reporting an increased interest in both. Nearly half (44%) of shoppers have already purchased second-hand, pre-owned or refurbished products directly from a brand, while peer-to-peer resale platforms (38%) and thrift shopping (39%) remain popular alternatives. As re-commerce becomes a mainstream shopping habit, consumers expect the same level of detail, clarity and confidence when buying used or refurbished products as they do when purchasing new.
“Re-commerce and resale introduce a new level of complexity for product data. Brands are managing multiple lifecycles, conditions, and histories instead of a single version of a product,” said Romaine Fouache, CEO of Akeneo. “Ensuring accuracy across materials, condition, origin, and impact is incredibly challenging, especially if the product has exchanged hands, but it’s also non-negotiable for consumers. As more consumers shop second- hand and refurbished products, trust depends on whether brands can deliver the same level of transparency and confidence they have grown accustomed to and expect from new products.”
