GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Consumer Products Industry Statistics

Diversity boosts profits, loyalty, innovation, and consumer trust in products.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

78% of consumers say diversity and inclusion are important when choosing brands

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In 2023, 66% of consumers believe brands have a moral obligation to support social justice issues

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58% of consumers feel that brands should actively promote inclusivity in their advertising

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85% of female consumers prefer brands that promote gender equality

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55% of younger consumers (aged 18-34) consider diversity and inclusion when making purchase decisions

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57% of consumers believe brands should actively seek to represent diverse communities

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70% of consumers prefer purchasing from companies that actively promote environmental and social inclusivity

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60% of consumer product companies have increased their focus on inclusive product development in the past three years

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55% of Fortune 500 companies have publicly announced diversity and inclusion initiatives

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60% of companies agree that D&I initiatives improve employee satisfaction

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Only 18% of marketing budgets are allocated to diversity-focused initiatives

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80% of consumer product executives acknowledge that D&I is a key driver for innovation

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45% of consumers are more likely to buy from brands that promote diversity and inclusion

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62% of consumers said they are more loyal to brands that demonstrate a commitment to diversity

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48% of consumers have switched brands due to perceived lack of diversity and inclusion

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Minority-owned brands represent only 8% of the total consumer product market share

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72% of consumers say they’re willing to pay more for brands that demonstrate social responsibility for diversity

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Consumer brands with an explicit DEI strategy are 2.5 times more likely to outperform their competitors

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59% of consumers say they are more likely to trust brands with transparent diversity policies

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84% of consumers say they pay more attention to brands they perceive as diverse

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54% of consumers say they are more likely to support brands that have diverse leadership

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Companies that publicly share D&I data see 20% higher consumer trust levels than those that do not

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80% of consumers say that brands showcasing diversity are more trustworthy

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40% of respondents in a survey want brands to feature diverse models, characters, or spokespeople

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Consumer products companies that implement inclusive marketing see an average revenue increase of 12%

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Only 22% of brand marketing campaigns feature diverse talent

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85% of consumers want brands to reflect the diversity of their communities

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45% of consumers feel underrepresented in marketing and branding campaigns

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41% of marketing campaigns in 2023 included at least one diverse cultural or ethnic group representation

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Only 29% of published marketing content features LGBTQ+ representation

Statistic 31

68% of consumers believe that inclusive packaging and advertising should be the norm for brands

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72% of brands reported using diversity in their product marketing strategies in 2023

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62% of consumers feel brands are more authentic when they showcase diversity in advertising

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89% of marketers agree that diversity positively impacts creativity in marketing campaigns

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46% of advertising campaigns ignore cultural diversity, leading to consumer mistrust

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54% of people from minority groups feel that brands do not do enough to represent their communities

Statistic 37

89% of marketing professionals agree that D&I should be prioritized in branding strategies

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Companies in the top quartile for gender or ethnic diversity are 35% more likely to have financial returns above their industry median

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Companies with diverse leadership are 1.4 times more likely to have and execute on their relational and strategic decisions

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70% of employees in consumer product firms believe diversity initiatives improve innovation

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Companies with inclusive cultures are 6 times more likely to be innovative

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52% of companies report challenges in recruiting diverse talent within the consumer industry

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63% of employees in consumer companies believe that diversity initiatives positively impact company performance

Statistic 44

49% of companies lack comprehensive D&I training programs for their marketing teams

Statistic 45

37% of consumer product executives report that their companies do not track diversity metrics

Statistic 46

65% of employees in consumer brands believe that inclusive leadership is critical for success

Statistic 47

64% of consumer product companies have increased their D&I budgets over the past two years

Statistic 48

84% of employees in consumer goods companies agree that D&I initiatives improve company reputation

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The percentage of companies with diversity and inclusion executives increased by 22% from 2020 to 2023

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66% of employees in consumer brands report increased engagement when working in inclusive environments

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Only 25% of companies have comprehensive D&I metrics integrated into overall business performance assessment

Statistic 52

65% of employees believe that diversity and inclusion efforts should be a priority at all levels of leadership

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Key Highlights

Companies in the top quartile for gender or ethnic diversity are 35% more likely to have financial returns above their industry median
78% of consumers say diversity and inclusion are important when choosing brands
45% of consumers are more likely to buy from brands that promote diversity and inclusion
Companies with diverse leadership are 1.4 times more likely to have and execute on their relational and strategic decisions
62% of consumers said they are more loyal to brands that demonstrate a commitment to diversity
55% of Fortune 500 companies have publicly announced diversity and inclusion initiatives
40% of respondents in a survey want brands to feature diverse models, characters, or spokespeople
In 2023, 66% of consumers believe brands have a moral obligation to support social justice issues
Consumer products companies that implement inclusive marketing see an average revenue increase of 12%
70% of employees in consumer product firms believe diversity initiatives improve innovation
Only 22% of brand marketing campaigns feature diverse talent
Companies with inclusive cultures are 6 times more likely to be innovative
58% of consumers feel that brands should actively promote inclusivity in their advertising

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are no longer just buzzwords—they’re essential drivers of success in the consumer products industry, with data showing that inclusive brands outperform competitors, earn greater consumer trust, and experience significant boosts in innovation and revenue.

Consumer Attitudes and Behaviors Toward Diversity and Inclusion

78% of consumers say diversity and inclusion are important when choosing brands
In 2023, 66% of consumers believe brands have a moral obligation to support social justice issues
58% of consumers feel that brands should actively promote inclusivity in their advertising
85% of female consumers prefer brands that promote gender equality
55% of younger consumers (aged 18-34) consider diversity and inclusion when making purchase decisions
57% of consumers believe brands should actively seek to represent diverse communities
70% of consumers prefer purchasing from companies that actively promote environmental and social inclusivity
60% of consumer product companies have increased their focus on inclusive product development in the past three years

Consumer Attitudes and Behaviors Toward Diversity and Inclusion Interpretation

In an era where nearly nine out of ten consumers demand social consciousness from brands, the consumer products industry must rebrand its priorities—embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion isn't just ethical but essential to stay relevant in the marketplace.

Corporate Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives and Strategies

55% of Fortune 500 companies have publicly announced diversity and inclusion initiatives
60% of companies agree that D&I initiatives improve employee satisfaction
Only 18% of marketing budgets are allocated to diversity-focused initiatives
80% of consumer product executives acknowledge that D&I is a key driver for innovation

Corporate Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives and Strategies Interpretation

While over half of Fortune 500 companies proclaim their commitment to D&I and most executives recognize its role in fueling innovation, the stark disparity in budget allocation—just 18%—suggests that many are still sleeping in the diversity dark while innovation waits eagerly on the horizon.

Impact of Diversity on Brand Loyalty and Purchasing Decisions

45% of consumers are more likely to buy from brands that promote diversity and inclusion
62% of consumers said they are more loyal to brands that demonstrate a commitment to diversity
48% of consumers have switched brands due to perceived lack of diversity and inclusion
Minority-owned brands represent only 8% of the total consumer product market share
72% of consumers say they’re willing to pay more for brands that demonstrate social responsibility for diversity
Consumer brands with an explicit DEI strategy are 2.5 times more likely to outperform their competitors
59% of consumers say they are more likely to trust brands with transparent diversity policies
84% of consumers say they pay more attention to brands they perceive as diverse
54% of consumers say they are more likely to support brands that have diverse leadership
Companies that publicly share D&I data see 20% higher consumer trust levels than those that do not
80% of consumers say that brands showcasing diversity are more trustworthy

Impact of Diversity on Brand Loyalty and Purchasing Decisions Interpretation

In a marketplace where nearly half of consumers prefer brands that practice diversity and inclusion, it’s clear that embracing D&I isn't just ethically right—it's a lucrative strategy, with consumers rewarding transparency, loyalty, and social responsibility—and brands that neglect this shift risk not only losing market share but also failing to earn the trust of an increasingly conscious clientele.

Representation and Inclusive Marketing Practices

40% of respondents in a survey want brands to feature diverse models, characters, or spokespeople
Consumer products companies that implement inclusive marketing see an average revenue increase of 12%
Only 22% of brand marketing campaigns feature diverse talent
85% of consumers want brands to reflect the diversity of their communities
45% of consumers feel underrepresented in marketing and branding campaigns
41% of marketing campaigns in 2023 included at least one diverse cultural or ethnic group representation
Only 29% of published marketing content features LGBTQ+ representation
68% of consumers believe that inclusive packaging and advertising should be the norm for brands
72% of brands reported using diversity in their product marketing strategies in 2023
62% of consumers feel brands are more authentic when they showcase diversity in advertising
89% of marketers agree that diversity positively impacts creativity in marketing campaigns
46% of advertising campaigns ignore cultural diversity, leading to consumer mistrust
54% of people from minority groups feel that brands do not do enough to represent their communities
89% of marketing professionals agree that D&I should be prioritized in branding strategies

Representation and Inclusive Marketing Practices Interpretation

Despite overwhelming consumer support and proven revenue gains, the consumer products industry continues to underrepresent diverse voices, revealing a striking disconnect between marketing intent and actual inclusion—an oversight that not only fuels consumer mistrust but also misses out on the creative richness that genuine diversity can bring.

Workplace Diversity, Culture, and Recruitment Challenges

Companies in the top quartile for gender or ethnic diversity are 35% more likely to have financial returns above their industry median
Companies with diverse leadership are 1.4 times more likely to have and execute on their relational and strategic decisions
70% of employees in consumer product firms believe diversity initiatives improve innovation
Companies with inclusive cultures are 6 times more likely to be innovative
52% of companies report challenges in recruiting diverse talent within the consumer industry
63% of employees in consumer companies believe that diversity initiatives positively impact company performance
49% of companies lack comprehensive D&I training programs for their marketing teams
37% of consumer product executives report that their companies do not track diversity metrics
65% of employees in consumer brands believe that inclusive leadership is critical for success
64% of consumer product companies have increased their D&I budgets over the past two years
84% of employees in consumer goods companies agree that D&I initiatives improve company reputation
The percentage of companies with diversity and inclusion executives increased by 22% from 2020 to 2023
66% of employees in consumer brands report increased engagement when working in inclusive environments
Only 25% of companies have comprehensive D&I metrics integrated into overall business performance assessment
65% of employees believe that diversity and inclusion efforts should be a priority at all levels of leadership

Workplace Diversity, Culture, and Recruitment Challenges Interpretation

While over half of consumer product employees see D&I as a performance booster and a majority recognize its role in fostering innovation and engagement, the persistent gaps in metrics, training, and talent recruitment reveal the industry’s race to truly embed diversity and inclusion into its strategic DNA is still in motion—highlighting that good intentions alone won’t suffice without measurable action.