Le vrac : mode ou nouvelle manière de consommer ? Analyse du comportement du consommateur liégeois.

Abstract

Environmental issues have been increasingly addressed for several decades. In this work, we have decided to focus on packaging and its harmful effects on the environment (dumping in nature, energy cost of production and recycling...). The introduction of bulk products is one of the solutions that could significantly reduce environmental impact of packaging. The aim of this work is to study the behaviour of consumers in Liège with regard to the arrival of bulk products. Various topics were studied, such as consumer interest in bulk products, the link between socio-demographic factors and the purchase of bulk products, as well as the criteria influencing them positively or negatively to buy bulk products. In order to test our various hypotheses, two studies were carried out. A first qualitative study allowed us to identify major trends and helped us to build a comprehensive questionnaire for the second quantitative study. Of the 401 consumers who responded to our survey, 94 % said they would like to buy or buy more bulk products, showing their interest in this mode of consumption. There is a clear link between the purchase of bulk products and age, geographical location, gender and household composition showing that certain types of population are currently more inclined to buy bulk products. On the other hand, no significant correlation was found with employment status or level of education. Ecological criteria are those that most influence the consumer to buy bulk products followed by service and product criteria. The criteria related to the establishment seem to negatively influence the consumer, while criteria related to products, hygiene and cleanliness and service do not seem to be decisive. To our knowledge, this study is the first one to analyse the behaviour of consumers in Liège with regard to bulk products and one of the first to look into this practice. It therefore makes it possible to provide initial elements that can be used to better understand and develop this new way of consuming.