Attitudes to Pest Control Study. 2 »The study provides the consumer perspective of the...

Attitudes to Pest Control Attitudes to Pest Control StudyStudy

Attitudes to Pest Control Attitudes to Pest Control StudyStudy

2

Attitudes to Pest Control Study

» The study provides the consumer perspective of the “market,” covering product use, related attitudes, knowledge of government regulation, and assessment of the proposal to prevent the sale and use of pest and weed control products.

» The research was conducted by telephone with a nationally representative sample of 600 homeowners (those in condo apartments excluded), April 19-25, 2001.

» The interview was completed with the individual who is responsible for decisions about pest and weed control.

» Each homeowner was asked three of four sections (minimum 450 interviews for each section): pests in home; pests in lawn/garden; pests in trees/shrubs; weeds.

BackgroundBackground

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Bottom Line / Three-Point BriefBottom Line / Three-Point Brief

» Canadian homeowners are of two minds about their use of pest and weed control products.

» They see merit in the products’ purpose and see the products as effective in accomplishing this purpose.

» They also see potential risks to using the products which centre on safety to humans and the environment.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Advantages and Disadvantages of Relevant ProductsRelevant Products

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Homeowners’ Perceptions of Pest Control Homeowners’ Perceptions of Pest Control Product Advantages (Unaided)Product Advantages (Unaided)

37%

28%

12%

15%

11%

3%

14%

6%

4%

23%

Kills pests (net)

No advantages/don’t know

Kills pests/eliminates (unspec)

Kills/eliminates ants, rats, mice, etc.

Controls pests (net)

Controls pests/keeps them down

Controls spread of disease

Improves look of yard/better flowers and treesEasy to use/effective products/fast results

Sanitary/cleaner living

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Homeowners’ Perceptions of Pest Control Homeowners’ Perceptions of Pest Control Product Disadvantages (Unaided)Product Disadvantages (Unaided)

44%37%

16%30%

19%8%

5%19%

7%5%

4%3%3%

17%

Harmful/dangerous (net)

No disadvantages/don’t know

Harmful to animals/people/childrenProduct is toxic/poisonous

Environment (net)Not environmentally friendly/ environmental hazards

Pollution (unspec)

Water/air/soil pollution

Health related (net)

Health hazards/risks to children/ animals/people

Risk of cancer/asthma/allergies

Cost/expensive

Dislike the smell/bad odour

Health hazards/risks (unspec)

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Homeowners’ Perceptions of Homeowners’ Perceptions of Plant Disease and Weed Control Plant Disease and Weed Control Product Advantages (Unaided)Product Advantages (Unaided)

26%

19%

8%

25%

16%

11%

14%

10%

6%

7%

4%

23%

Appearance of yard (net)

No advantages/don’t know

Improves look of yard/trees/flowers/grass

Healthier plants/trees/flowers

Kills (net)

Kills weeds/eliminates

Kills bugs/eliminates

Controls (net)

Controls weeds/stops spreading of weedsControls (plant) diseases/stop spreading of diseases

Easy to use/effective product/fast resultsHealthier crop/better yields

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Homeowners’ Perceptions of Plant Disease Homeowners’ Perceptions of Plant Disease and Weed Control Product Disadvantages and Weed Control Product Disadvantages

(Unaided)(Unaided)39%

23%14%

5%37%

24%19%

24%12%

6%5%

4%3%

18%

Environment (net)

No disadvantages/don’t know

Not environmentally friendly/environmental hazardsWater/air/soil pollution

Pollution (unspec)

Harmful/dangerous (net)

Harmful to children/animals/people

Product is toxic/poisonous

Health related (net)Health hazards/risk to children/animals/peopleHealth hazards/risks (unspec)

Risk of cancer/asthma/allergies

Cost/too expensive

Kills/burns grass and plants

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Likely Response to SituationLikely Response to Situation

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Homeowners’ Likely Response to SituationHomeowners’ Likely Response to Situation

45% 49% 42%28%

18% 13%19%

35%28% 29%

54%

10% 10%

9%

9%

Pests in Home Pests inLawn/ Garden

Pests inTrees/ Shrubs

Weeds

Purchase suitable product and use

Hire a professional

Try to eliminate or remove by hand

Take no action, ignore

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Use of Relevant Products and Professional Use of Relevant Products and Professional ServicesServices

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Use of Relevant Products in Past 2 Years Use of Relevant Products in Past 2 Years among Homeownersamong Homeowners

56%

48%

37%

51%

Pests in home

Weeds

Pests in lawn/garden

Pests in trees/shrubs

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Use of Professional Services in Past 2 Use of Professional Services in Past 2 Years among HomeownersYears among Homeowners

5%

14%

9%

18%

Pests in home

Weeds

Pests in lawn/garden

Pests in trees/shrubs

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Related AttitudesRelated Attitudes

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Homeowners’ Agreement with Statements Homeowners’ Agreement with Statements About Pest and Weed ControlAbout Pest and Weed Control

Pests inHome

Pests inLawn/Garden

Pests inTrees/Shrubs Weeds

% % % %

Want to keep relevant areas free:Strongly agree 82 48 53 49Total agree 97 83 85 81

Expect to be able to buy if necessary:Strongly agree 62 52 47 50Total agree 90 86 83 79

Instructions are clear and easy to understand:Strongly agree 40 36 30 40Total agree 82 80 71 79

Instructions are read and followed:Strongly agree 78 73 69 69Total agree 89 88 83 82

Pests inHome

Pests inLawn/Garden


% % % %

Want to keep relevant areas free:Strongly agree 82 48 53 49Total agree 97 83 85 81

Expect to be able to buy if necessary:Strongly agree 62 52 47 50Total agree 90 86 83 79

Instructions are clear and easy to understand:Strongly agree 40 36 30 40Total agree 82 80 71 79

Instructions are read and followed:Strongly agree 78 73 69 69Total agree 89 88 83 82

Scale used: Strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, strongly disagree

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79%70% 69% 66%

18% 25% 26% 30%

5%5%4%



Weeds

Necessary, safe if used properly

Neutral/neitherHazardous, unnecessary

Overall Opinion among Homeowners on Overall Opinion among Homeowners on the Usethe Use

of Relevant Productsof Relevant Products

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Preference for Product AvailabilityPreference for Product Availability

18


56%46% 39%

52%

36%44%

46%

10% 15% 12%

36%

8%



Weeds

Available for purchase on the shelves

Available behind the counter on request

Not available at all

Homeowners’ Preference for Availability of Homeowners’ Preference for Availability of Relevant Products at Retail StoresRelevant Products at Retail Stores

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Perceptions of Government RegulationPerceptions of Government Regulation

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Homeowners’ Perceptions of the Level and Homeowners’ Perceptions of the Level and Adequacy of Government RegulationAdequacy of Government Regulation

Pests inHome

Pests inLawn/Garden


% % % %

Regulated by Federal Government:Yes, for sure 26 34 30 32Probably, would assume so 47 43 46 42No, not regulated 16 13 13 16Don’t know 11 10 11 10

Existing Level of Regulation:More than adequate 8 8 8 11Adequate 63 62 55 57Less than adequate 24 26 32 29Don’t know 5 4 5 4

Pests inHome

Pests inLawn/Garden


% % % %

Regulated by Federal Government:Yes, for sure 26 34 30 32Probably, would assume so 47 43 46 42No, not regulated 16 13 13 16Don’t know 11 10 11 10

Existing Level of Regulation:More than adequate 8 8 8 11Adequate 63 62 55 57Less than adequate 24 26 32 29Don’t know 5 4 5 4

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10%17% 17% 22%

16%

21% 23% 20%

26%

30% 28% 28%

45%27% 28% 27%

4%5%



Weeds

Strongly support

Neutral

Somewhat oppose

Support or Oppose Prohibiting Sale and Support or Oppose Prohibiting Sale and Use of Pest and Weed Control Products Use of Pest and Weed Control Products

Somewhat support

Strongly oppose

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Conclusions / Key FindingsConclusions / Key Findings

» Canadian homeowners are of two minds about their use of pest and weed control products.

» They see merit in the products’ purpose and see the products as effective in accomplishing this purpose, which is both to control pests, plant diseases and weeds, and to enable homeowners to do so themselves. Another benefit is that these products further the pride homeowners take in their gardening efforts (and home).

» On the other hand, homeowners also see disadvantages or potential risks to using these products. These perceived drawbacks include the products’ toxicity to humans and animals, and adverse environmental impact.

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» Homeowners are likely to take action when faced with a pest, plant disease or weed situation (virtually all if they find pests in the home and 90% for the other situations).

» Many see suitable products as the best approach. Purchasing a suitable product for do-it-yourself use is the most common first response to three of the four situations, while hiring a professional is the least likely reaction – aside from ignoring the issue – to all four.

» Overall...homeowners acknowledge both benefits and drawbacks to these products, but are likely to use them when needed. This suggests they are considering the pros and cons, and consciously making the trade-off in favour of product use.

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» With regard to access, homeowners clearly want to have the products available at retail (82%-85%). Access preferences are correlated with use of the products; users are more often in favour of shelf access while non-users are more likely to favour behind-the-counter access.

» Most (73%-77%) either know these products to be regulated by the Federal government or feel confident in assuming such regulation exists. Most (63%-71%) also see the existing level of regulation as either adequate or more than adequate.

» Homeowners are likely to have an opinion on the Federal government prohibiting the sale of these products (i.e., very few are neutral or undecided on the matter). Opposition to this proposal outweighs support for each of the four product categories, and is particularly strong for in-home pest control products.

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