• by Sarah Mahoney , October 4, 2011

When it comes to corporate responsibility, consumers aren't just paying closer to attention, they're ready to kick brands that don't behave to the curb: Some 93% are willing to boycott corporations that behave poorly, and 56% have already done so.

And they're also willing to reward companies they perceive as responsible, reports the 2011 Cone/Echo Global CR Opportunity Study, with 94% saying they would buy a product that has an environmental benefit, and 76% saying they have already done so in the past 12 months. Cause-related products are just as popular, appealing to 93% of the more than 10,000 consumers polled in 10 countries. And 65% have already purchased such a product.

The most important issue for companies to address? Economic development, with 34% of respondents placing it first. Combined with the environment (21%), these issues represent the attention of more than half of the 10,000 respondents. Human rights comes in a more distant third (12%).