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Consumers are four to six times more likely to buy from brands with strong purpose – study

A global study analyzing the business value of brands having a well understood Purpose has revealed a strong business benefit as consumers are four to six times more likely to buy from, trust, champion, and defend companies with a strong Purpose.

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A global study analyzing the business value of brands having a well understood Purpose has revealed a strong business benefit as consumers are four to six times more likely to buy from, trust, champion, and defend companies with a strong Purpose.

The 2020 Zeno Strength of Purpose Study, commissioned by Zeno Group, the global, integrated communications agency, surveyed more than 8,000 individuals across 8 markets (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, China, India, Singapore, Malaysia). As part of the study, consumers rated their perceived strength of Purpose of more than 75 brands. Zeno then performed a correlation and regression analysis to understand the relationship between consumers’ perceptions of a brand’s Purpose and their attitudes and intended behavior toward them.

Zeno found that when a brand is perceived to have a strong Purpose, consumers were:

  • Four times more likely to purchase from the brand;
  • Six times more likely to defend that brand in a challenging moment;
  • Four and a half times more likely to recommend (champion) the brand to friends and family;
  • Four times more likely to trust the brand.

Globally, France and the UK emerged as the countries most likely to trustchampion and defend a brand with a strong Purpose; consumers in Malaysia, India and Singapore were most likely to buy from a brand with a strong Purpose.

The survey also found that the benefits of a strong Purpose held across regions and generations, with 82% of consumers saying they took action to support a company or brand when they believed in its Purpose, sharing positive opinions of that brand with others, encouraging others to support or buy it, or starting to buy from the brand themselves.

Elements of Purposeful Brands

Zeno asked survey respondents to identify the top attributes of purposeful brands and uncovered eight key elements:

  • Fair treatment of all employees
  • Products or services that reflect the needs of people today
  • Ethical and sustainable business practices
  • Support for important social causes
  • Creation of new job opportunities
  • Diverse and inclusive culture
  • Issue advocacy
  • Strong set of values 

In North America and Europe, respondents ranked “fair treatment of employees” as the number one element of a purposeful brand. In Asia, consumers rated making “products and services that reflect the needs of people today” as the top element of a purposeful brand.

The Purpose Paradox

Consumers have also raised the bar and are looking to companies to advance progress on important issues within and outside of their operational footprint. Ninety four percent of global consumers say it is important that the companies they engage with have a strong Purpose. However, a significant gap exists as only 37% believe companies today actually do. Moreover, 83% of consumers surveyed globally said companies should only earn a profit if they have a positive impact, implying consumers have developed an expectation for brands and companies to have a higher calling beyond earning profits and rewarding shareholders.

When it comes to Gen Z – teens and 20-somethings – the stakes for brands couldn’t be higher, as many of these young people are in fact their own brands.  They expect brands to live their Purpose with action and to responsibly and consistently wield their economic and social power for good.

“By evaluating over 75 global companies, this is truly the first study of its kind directly linking the strength of a brand’s Purpose to reputation and business benefits. The data proves that consumers expect companies to have a more meaningful reason for being and are making decisions about what to buy and where to work with an eye toward supporting those that share their values,” said Alison DaSilva, Managing Director, Purpose & Impact at Zeno Group. “Yet, companies are leaving equity and opportunity on the table as the majority of consumers do not believe companies today have a clear and strong Purpose. It has never been more important for companies to not only articulate their Purpose, but to consistently demonstrate that Purpose in how they operate, support issues and engage with all stakeholders.”

Holding Brands Accountable

The study also found the so-called “cancel culture” expressed in respondents’ replies, as nearly eight-in-ten (76%) global consumers indicated they will act against brands whose Purpose, values or behaviors they disagree with, by no longer buying from the brand, switching to a competitor, or discouraging others from buying  or supporting it. 

The cancel culture behavior appears strongest among younger generations, with 88% of Gen Z and 85% of Millennials saying they were more likely to act negatively towards a brand they disagreed with. Primary actions included sharing their opinions with family and friends, whereas Boomers and Matures were more likely to act with their wallets, saying they would stop buying from the brand altogether.

The inclination for consumers to act against brands or companies they disagreed with was stronger in Eastern countries (China, 92%; Malaysia, 91%; Singapore, 89%). Meanwhile, in the United States, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom, consumers were slightly more forgiving of brands when they disappointed.

Younger Generations: Valuing Purpose

While respondents across generations recognized the strength and importance of Purpose, younger generations were most likely to champion on behalf of brands with a strong Purpose. Findings included:  

  • 92% of Gen Z and 90% of Millennial respondents say they would act in support of a purposeful brand – at least 10 percentage points higher than other generations surveyed.
  • 87% of Gen Z and 84% of Millennials state it’s a CEO, Founder, or Owner’s responsibility to drive a brand’s Purpose – six-to-three percentage points higher than all respondents.
  • 70% of Gen Z and Millennials feel a brand should have a Purpose they personally believe in – 22 percentage points higher than Boomers and Matures.
  • Across all survey questions, Gen Z led all generations in their positive affirmation of a brand’s Purpose. 

“When it comes to Gen Z – teens and 20-somethings – the stakes for brands couldn’t be higher, as many of these young people are in fact their own brands.  They expect brands to live their Purpose with action and to responsibly and consistently wield their economic and social power for good,” said Therese Caruso, Managing Director, Global Strategy & Planning at Zeno Group. “Gen Z’s number one ambition is to build a better world through the strength of collective action.  Those brands that do not put authentic and actionable Purpose at their core risk losing one of the most influential youth generations on the planet.”  

Ethical Biz

Canon Marketing Philippines leads Brigada Eskwela to help prepare Lagro High School for new school year

Beyond the physical improvements, the initiative reflected the collaboration and community spirit that Brigada Eskwela represents each year.

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Canon Marketing Philippines recently led faculty, students, and employee volunteers at Lagro High School for this year’s Brigada Eskwela, helping prepare classrooms ahead of the opening of classes.

The activity brought together Canon employees and the school’s student council to repaint and refresh classrooms, creating a more welcoming environment for returning students. Beyond the physical improvements, the initiative reflected the collaboration and community spirit that Brigada Eskwela represents each year.

Volunteers worked side by side through a morning of paint-streaked shirts, teamwork, and meaningful conversations, all toward a common goal: classrooms where students feel motivated to learn and grow.

Canon Marketing Philippines also donated printers to support the school’s teaching and administrative needs, reinforcing the company’s commitment to empowering educators and students through technology.

“Our participation in Brigada Eskwela reflects Canon’s Kyosei philosophy of living and working together for the common good,” said Anuj Aggarwal, President and CEO of Canon Marketing Philippines. “We believe education plays a vital role in shaping communities, and through simple but meaningful initiatives like this, we hope to help create better learning environments for students and teachers alike. Kyosei is most meaningful when experienced through collective action and genuine care for others.”

Through initiatives like Brigada Eskwela, Canon Marketing Philippines continues to strengthen its corporate social responsibility commitment by supporting communities and contributing to spaces where people can learn, connect, and thrive.

Canon is a multibillion-dollar company with one of the most extensive product lines of digital imaging devices. 2020 marks the company’s 35th consecutive year it has been ranked among the top five U.S. patent holders and the 16th consecutive year it has been ranked first among Japanese companies for the number of U.S. patents granted. It continues to enrich lives through technological innovation.   

Guided by its commitment to its Kyosei philosophy of living and working together for the common good, Canon provides total imaging solutions to improve personal and professional lives. The brand ranks as one of the top 20 brands in the region according to a 2018 study conducted by Campaign Asia-Pacific and Nielsen thanks to its strong reputation on performance and good corporate citizenship.   

Canon Marketing (Philippines), Inc. has offices spread across the Philippine archipelago supported by its vast network of authorized service centers. Recognitions and awards received include the Corporate Award and Gold Bagwis Seal of Excellence for providing distinctive service to customers.    

Canon Marketing Philippines reaffirms its dedication to sustainability, integrating eco-friendly practices across all its operations and product lifecycle, striving for a greener future for generations to come.    

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Ethical Biz

Climate change is reshaping how companies do business

Ccompanies exposed to higher climate change risks are deliberately reducing their reliance on a small number of major customers. Instead, they are spreading sales across a broader customer base as a way of managing risk.

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Climate change is not only disrupting supply chains and asset values, it is also quietly reshaping companies’ choice of business partners.

New research based on nearly two decades of data from thousands of US-listed firms shows that companies exposed to higher climate change risks are deliberately reducing their reliance on a small number of major customers. Instead, they are spreading sales across a broader customer base as a way of managing risk.

The study, published in Business Strategy and the Environment, finds clear evidence that climate risk is driving this strategic shift, rather than simply coinciding with it. Firms facing greater exposure to extreme weather, climate-related disruption, or regulatory transition risk are less likely to concentrate revenue among a handful of large buyers.

Amplifying shocks

Authors Dr Eric Boahen, Dr Cuong Nguyen and Thi Thuy Trang Nguyen found this behaviour is particularly pronounced among firms with strong corporate social responsibility performance, higher levels of innovation, and heavy investment in physical assets such as plants and infrastructure. These firms appear to recognise that customer concentration can amplify climate shocks.

“What this evidence shows is that climate risk is no longer abstract or future-facing. It is shaping everyday business decisions in the here and now,” said Dr Boahen, Cluster Lead for Accounting, Finance and Economics at the University of East London.

“Boards and executives are not just thinking about emissions or disclosure. They are quietly rethinking who they depend on for revenue. When climate shocks can hit firms and their biggest customers at the same time, relying too heavily on a small number of clients becomes a strategic vulnerability.”

The research draws on real-world behaviour observed across almost 4,800 firms over a 17-year period.

Why it matters

For investors and lenders, the study highlights customer concentration as a potential blind spot in climate risk assessment. Companies with diversified customer bases may be better insulated against earnings volatility, financing stress, and supply-chain disruption.

For boards and regulators, the findings point to customer structure as a governance issue. Persistently high customer concentration in climate-exposed regions may signal weaknesses in risk management.

“Climate resilience is not just about where assets are located or how much carbon a firm emits,” Dr Boahen said. “It is also about how exposed a company is through its commercial relationships. Customer concentration is now a climate issue, whether companies label it that way or not.”

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Ethical Biz

Maxim Cebu drivers extend help to communities affected by natural disaster

Driver-partners of Maxim Cebu extended humanitarian aid to communities affected by the recent natural disaster, delivering water and rice to the damaged area and donating blood at the local hospital.

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In the first days of October, driver-partners of Maxim Cebu extended humanitarian aid to communities affected by the recent natural disaster, delivering water and rice to the damaged area and donating blood at the local hospital.

The assistance reached about a hundred families in Bogo City, who had taken refuge in temporary shelters set up at Cebu Provincial Hospital Bogo City and Bogo Gymnasium. The supplies were transported in Maxim’s trucks, but since the road leading to the shelters had been destroyed, the task of delivering the goods was taken on by driver-partners using more mobile vehicles – motos.

A total of 62 Maxim driver-partners took part in distributing relief goods to those in need. Together, they delivered more than 500 kilograms of rice, 200 packs of biscuits, and around 100 bottles of water. The campaign was jointly sponsored by the company and its partners, who were eager to help the affected residents during this difficult time.

The following day, a group of driver-partners visited Vicente Sotto Hospital to donate blood. More than 60 victims of the earthquake had been admitted to the hospital, which, subsequently, left the medical facility with critically low blood supplies. Seventy-two driver-partners donated approximately 35 liters of blood, while their colleagues in Lapu-Lapu City followed with 30 more donors, contributing nearly 15 liters. All donations will be used to treat the patients injured by the earthquake.

To further support recovery efforts, Maxim Cebu also organized a street cleanup to help mitigate the disaster’s aftermath. From 5 to 8 a.m., the company’s team cleared debris and helped restore order in the affected zone. This initiative not only improved the local environment but also reinforced Maxim’s commitment to supporting local communities in times of crisis.

Building on these humanitarian efforts, Maxim–Angeles Pampanga will also hold a blood donation activity at the Mabalacat LGU this coming October 30, continuing the company’s advocacy of helping communities in need and promoting volunteerism among its driver-partners.

“This earthquake has become a grave challenge for our communities, and it is at a time like this when we must stand together,“ said Poliran Christopher Landong, Head of Maxim Cebu. “Maxim and our driver-partners are doing everything we can to support the people, be it street cleanups, blood donations, or whatever else that is needed. We are a team, and only by staying united can we overcome major difficulties.”

This effort is one of the many social initiatives launched by Maxim Rides & Food Delivery and its driver-partners. It marks another important step in community support, showing that Maxim’s partners are always ready to come together when lives are at stake.

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