How much does the ‘eco’ shopping basket cost?

In the last year, the average consumer price index (CPI) was 8.4% higher than the previous year and some products have seen their value shoot up on supermarket shelves. For example, milk increased by 37%, eggs by 31% and juices by 18%. This increase in the purchase receipt is also noticeable in the corridors where ‘eco’ products are displayed. “Obviously, we also see that rise reflected,” explains Granado. “But we are a more resilient sector by using the circular economy,” he adds.

Despite this, the difference in cost with a regular purchase has not diminished, but rather has grown. “‘Eco’ products are three times more expensive than white label ones,” says a recent report by the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU). A handicap that “causes many consumers not to develop their inner ecological client,” explains Juan Carlos Gázquez-Abad, associate professor at the UOC’s Economics and Business Studies.

According to the latest study of ‘Connecting with eco-conscious consumers’, almost seven out of ten surveyed Spaniards would like to do more for the environment and the planet and that includes ecological purchases. However, “The ecoactive consumer is the product of the values ​​he has, but even if he has them, the economic situation will condition him to adopt a more or less active behavior, regardless of his values,” says Neus Soler, professor at the Faculty of Economics and UOC company. “Interest in these products is growing little by little and it can be seen in per capita spending,” counters the general secretary of Ecovalia.

The latest annual report from the Spanish professional association of organic production reveals that Spanish consumers spent an average of 60 euros on their organic purchases. “In recent years we have gone from ‘twenty-something’ euros to the current sixty,” reveals Granado.

However, the disbursement of the Spanish is very far from that of the neighboring countries. “It is a must in our income statement and we have to work to boost consumption in our country,” replies the spokesman for the organic production association.

The spending of the Spanish is very far from the Swiss who spend 425 euros per capita on ecological purchases or three times less than the French who allocate 187 euros to these purchases. “It is a bit of general awareness,” explains Granado. “We look more for ourselves than for the collective,” he adds.

However, the increase in per capita spending by Spaniards in the last four years has grown by 22% to reach the current figure. An increase that also has its explanation in the rise in prices that the sector has experienced. “Although they have done it almost one point below the total average,” says Granado.

Despite this, the difference is in some cases double. The dozen organic eggs reach 5.5 euros on the supermarket shelves. “It is one of the most demanded products and it does not cover the existing demand,” highlights Granado.

The difference in prices for products of the same brand in conventional and eco versions represents an increase of 60% for organic purchases, according to the OCU. Difference that is explained in the production costs of these foods. The absence of non-organic fertilizers and other chemicals makes the price more expensive.

Vegetable products reign

The usual shopping basket of Spaniards is made up of household hygiene products (75.8%), dairy products, yogurts and desserts (74.5%), packaged foods (61.9%) and personal hygiene products (60.7%). In the case of the ‘eco’, “the most demanded are vegetable products”, explains Granado.

The organic basket in Spain during 2022 was made up of 64% organic products of plant origin, mainly fruit (14%) and vegetables (10%), and 36% products of animal origin, mainly meat (27%). . However, the most loyal are the buyers of eco cleaning products. The 20% of those who buy cleaning products from sustainable brands have no intention of switching to non-ecological brands despite the general increase in prices. Of all the categories analyzed in the ‘Connecting with eco-conscious consumer’ report, this is the one with the lowest abandonment rate.

The ecological area grows

Inflation fever has triggered organic prices, has slowed consumption in this segment of the economy, but has not slowed down production. The total market for organic products in Spain in 2022 reached 2,856 million euros, of which 2,532 correspond to the market value in homes, according to the Ecovalia Annual Report on organic production and consumption in Spain.

By country, Australia is the paradise of organic production with the largest number of hectares dedicated to the cultivation and growth of these products. Spain is the second European country after France with 2.64 million hectares. “It has grown 26.6% in the last 5 years and without public aid,” explains Granado.

By geographical area, Andalusia represents almost half of the total, accumulating 1.4 million hectares devoted to organic production. Castilla La-Mancha and Catalonia are the other two large poles with 15% and 10% of the total.

Regarding the crops in our country, the main ones are nuts, with 262,280 hectares; the olive grove, with 256,507 hectares; cereals, with 241,913 hectares; and the vineyards, with 142,176 hectares. However, at a percentage level, the four crops that have grown the most are: nuts (33%); banana and subtropical (23%); citrus (21%) and olive groves (15%).

In Spain there are a total of 62,320 ecological activities, a category that has registered an increase of 41.7% in the last five years. “We have to continue working on raising awareness among farmers, ranchers and also consumers,” says Granado. «You have to work on the labeling, because there is a lot of trouble. People have to know that if there is a green leaf it is an ecological product.