The energy crisis, price explosions and the threat of inflation are currently placing a particularly heavy burden on consumers' wallets. Now that the Euro has to be turned over twice, consumers are increasingly turning to private labels of well-known supermarket chains, which allows cost savings of 20 to 30%. But do private labels also help to save energy for the general public, since they are produced differently from other branded products?

Often the same manufacturer is behind a private label brand, producing a well-known manufacturer brand on the same machine. Consumers can therefore use private labels with a clear conscience because of the similar production conditions and comparable quality of the products. However, it is difficult to track the energy impact of production, as the processes and supply routes are often very complex.

In relation to production, however, three quarters of the energy consumption is generated by the customers themselves through the purchase, use or disposal of the products. It is therefore up to consumers to reduce their energy consumption, for example by taking a reusable carrier bag, traveling to the supermarket by bicycle or avoiding unnecessary packaging.

The increasing willingness to buy sustainable products, not only among young people, signals the increased demand to manufacturers. However, private labels that particularly emphasize their sustainable production or regionality are currently still scarce on supermarket shelves. According to the report, private labels can become potential pioneers if chains respond even more to customer behavior. "Retailers should take advantage of this and develop private labels that aim to be climate-neutral, socially responsible and affordable," emphasizes Professor Manfred Krafft in an interview Professor Manfred Krafft with Radio RTS.
The article and the full interview with Professor Krafft can be found here.