The Center of Retail Research expects European consumers to take advantage of a drop in price premiums on "green" goods, according to a report from Kelkoo.
Price premiums have decreased from 54 percent to 46 percent since 2006 and will fall another 16 percent by 2012, leading researchers to predict eco-friendly product sales to double by 2015. However, at 46 percent, costs remain higher than the average consumer wants to spend.
"We can expect availability, Green price premiums, and consumer demand to change over the next few years, but probably the single most important factor preventing a greater take-up of Green merchandise in stores and the internet is price," said Bruce Fair, managing director of Kelkoo UK.
At EUR€15 billion, consumer electronics accounts for the second largest sector of "green" sales, with products such as energy-efficient light bulbs, hybrid technology and Mercury free projectors available to consumers.
This area has the potential for growth, as energy efficient electrical goods will see the greatest price reduction by 2012, falling from 58 percent today to 47 percent in two years, according to the report.
Organic food and beverages accounted for the largest sector of "green" sales in Europe, collecting more than EUR€18 billion. In comparison, the U.S. totaled US$26.6 billion in organic food and drinks in 2009, according to the Organic Trade Association.
