First-of-its-kind 14-country study ranks consumers according to environmental behavior

The Goods sub-index, a combination of everyday consumption and waste disposal plus ownership of big-ticket items, consists of such variables as purchase and/or avoidance of specific products for environmental reasons, avoidance of excessive packaging, preference for reusable goods over disposable products and for used goods over new items, willingness to pay an environmental premium, recycling, and number of TVs, PCs, refrigerators, dishwashers and laundry machines per household member. Consumers in China, India and Brazil decisively top the ranking with widespread preference for green products and ownership of relatively few appliances and expensive electronic devices. US consumers score lowest. Photo by Colin Monteath/Midden Pictures Copyright 2008 National Geographic