More than 4.3 million users purchased products with a positive impact in Latin America last year

Online sales of positive impact products continue to consolidate in Latin America. Over 4.3 million people bought around 7.3 million sustainable products in 2022, doubling the number of items sold, according to data from the study "Online consumption trends with positive impact", produced by Mercado Libre.

This data is based on company information and a survey of more than 3,800 users in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay, who purchased at least one item of this type in the last six months.

The study, which looks into Mercado Libre’s positive impact consumer trends, shows that the number of buyers grew by 29% from the previous year. There was also an increase of more than 114% in the total number of items sold by the 63 thousand companies and brands with a positive impact on the platform. In addition, from 2020 ‒ the year the study started ‒ to 2022, we can see a 37% growth of buyers in Latin America.

Home, Furniture and Garden takes the top spot as the leading category in all countries, with products like compost bins and LED lights. Next are energy-efficient Appliances and Foods and Beverages (organic or vegan). The categories that grew the most in the period were Refurbished Consoles (+150%), Food and Beverages - organic or vegan (+133%) and Babies - reusable products (+111%).

The best-selling products were LED lights, water purifiers, reusable bottles, menstrual cups and bicycles, which dominated searches in all countries, including those related to low-emission mobility, reusable items & zero waste and gardening (composting and orchards).

“At Mercado Libre we offer the most sustainable products available on the market in one place. This is to enhance our users’ purchasing experience and promote a more complete and mindful view of the impacts of our consumption on the planet and its people. We are aware that today's decisions will define tomorrow, so we seek to further expand the variety and scope of our Sustainable Products section. We are convinced that a better future begins with working together with triple-impact entrepreneurs and our users”, said Guadalupe Marín, Director of Sustainability at Mercado Libre.

Like the previous year, the build and quality of the products were among the most important factors when choosing a positive impact item over a regular one. Almost half of the study's findings focus on four factors: the durability of the product, its design and functionality, whether it is made from recycled materials, and whether organic or agroecological products are used in its production.

According to the results and analyzing the customer profile, 9 out of 10 respondents agree that “the current environmental situation is very worrying” due to global warming, followed by pollution and water scarcity.

Mercado Libre is part of this transformative movement and aims to integrate it into its strategy to maximize the positive impacts of its ecosystem. The Sustainable Products section was created in 2019 as an evolution of our #EcoFriday initiative, which was launched in 2016 to promote conscious consumption and invite users to become agents of change. In this section customers can find a curated range of positive impact products from Latin America, with more than 30 categories and 143 million items.