Green purchases key to pressuring haze-linked firms, experts say

Experts have identified consumer purchasing power as a significant lever to influence companies contributing to Southeast Asia's persistent haze problems, with green-labelled products offering a direct channel for market pressure.

By prioritising certified sustainable goods, shoppers can create economic incentives for firms to adopt cleaner practices and reduce their environmental footprint. This market-driven approach complements traditional regulatory frameworks and demonstrates how individual choices aggregate into substantial business pressure.

However, specialists caution that consumer action alone is insufficient. Retail chains bear responsibility for stocking and promoting environmentally certified alternatives, making such products accessible and competitively priced for mainstream shoppers rather than niche markets.

Government intervention remains critical to the equation. Experts emphasise that stronger regulatory measures, enforcement mechanisms, and sustainability standards are necessary to level the playing field and prevent companies from circumventing environmental obligations. Without coordinated policy frameworks, voluntary corporate measures and consumer initiatives face significant limitations.

The combined approach—empowered consumers, engaged retailers, and decisive regulatory action—offers the most promising pathway to address supply-chain practices driving regional air quality challenges.