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UNIQUE CANADA-WIDE STUDY – QUEBEC APRIL 2008
| | | Equiterre, an environmental organization based in Montréal, Quebec, is preparing the finishing touches on a Canada-wide study about consumers' perceptions of environmentally-friendly horticultural products and organic lawn care and landscaping services.
The aim of the Canada-wide study:
- identify the factors that promote or discourage consumption of environmentally-friendly horticultural products and organic lawn care and landscaping services and,
- determine the most effective factors that motivate consumers to choose environmentally-friendly horticultural products and organic lawn care/landscaping services
Equiterre’s research includes 2 main components. 1). a Canada-wide survey of the general population and, 2). In-depth interviews with the professional sector.The Canada-wide survey was conducted with 1,250 people from the general population (people who practice horticultural activities or take care of their own lawn/landscape) and the results will provide an overall picture of what is happening in Canada.For an in-depth look at the professional sector, 30 – 60 minute interviews were conducted with merchants and lawn care and landscape services providers in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver. Information gathered from these interviews will provide a better understanding of; merchants' views about consumer behaviour and expectations, their opinions about laws and bylaws that ban pesticide use and their level of awareness about environmentally-friendly horticultural products and organic lawn care and landscaping services. Information gathered from these interviews will be used to identify the obstacles that prevent consumers from taking action.The results of the study could be used by the general public and any organization related to horticulture in Canada, as well as merchants and services providers. Governments and environmental organizations could benefit from the study to better educate and motivate consumers to choose environmentally-friendly horticultural products and organic lawn care and landscaping services.The study will be launched in April 2008. For more information contact Lova Ramanitrarivo, M. Sc. 514-522-2000 ext. 250.. Visit: www.equiterre.org The Equiterre study is financially supported by the Office of Consumer Affairs of Industry Canada. In 2006, Equiterre merged with Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (CAP) who worked to raise awareness about pesticide abuse and educate citizens about alternatives to pesticides. Equiterre also provides a certification program called HORTI-ECO, which is dedicated to organic lawn care and landscape services. |
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