Consumer Perceptions on O&G

Sapphire Technologies conducted a survey to learn more about consumer perceptions around oil and gas companies. One key takeaway from this study is that consumers perceive oil & gas companies as environmentally friendly, however; opportunities exist to educate the public on specific EPG initiatives through consumers’ primary information source – the news media.  

The below represents the findings of our study.  

A Note on Methodology

This online survey of 1,066 U.S. adults aged 18 and up was conducted from May 3 to 6, 2024. The data were weighted to the U.S. population by 9 demographic questions. The credibility interval for questions answered by all respondents is plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Perceptions on Environmental Impact of Oil and Gas Companies

The majority of survey respondents believe oil and gas companies are at least somewhat environmentally friendly (59%), with 20% of respondents believing O&G companies are “very” or “extremely” environmentally friendly. Interestingly, Millennials and Gen Z respondents indexed slightly higher than older generations in indicating O&G companies are “very” or “extremely” environmentally friendly.  

Respondents also indicated they believe “exploration and drilling” is the most environmentally adverse part of the oil and gas supply chain.  

Oil and Gas Company Sustainability Efforts

While oil and gas companies have committed to slash methane emissions by 80% by 2030, and invest billions each year in clean energy, over 1/3 of respondents are not familiar with these efforts.  

Consumer Priorities in a Utilities Provider

The majority of respondents (51%) indicate cost is the most important factor they consider in a utilities provider. This illustrates the pressure energy companies face to keep costs down while meeting environmental sustainability goals.  

Sources of Information on the Oil and Gas Industry

The majority of respondents (52%) rely on news media for information on the environmental practices of oil and gas companies, illustrating the importance of ensuring balanced and unbiased coverage of O&G companies in mainstream media outlet – regardless of the political climate. Generation Z was the only generation that indicated news media is not their primary information source. Instead, the younger generation primarily gets their information from social media, introducing an opportunity and challenge for oil and gas companies to communicate with younger consumers through less formal mediums.  

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