Hong Kong - The majority of consumers in Asia are skeptical about the motives behind companies that sponsor environmentally friendly initiatives, a global study published Tuesday claimed.

Most believed companies only sponsor green initiatives to improve their public image or to sell more products rather than because they cared about the environment, the study of green perceptions, attitudes and behaviour concluded.

Of the six Asian countries included in TNS Our Green World study, the Koreans emerged as being the most skeptical, with only 5 per cent of those questioned believing companies went green because they cared.

The Thais were a little more optimistic, with 19 per cent believing green companies to be caring, compared to 23 per cent in Hong Kong and 27 per cent in Singapore.

The Japanese emerged as being the most willing to see good in the motives of companies going green, with 38 per cent saying they believed these companies cared - well above the global average of 16 per cent.

However, the Japanese also emerged as the Asian consumers least likely to be swayed by a company's green image with, only 13 per cent saying it would influence their purchasing decisions.

That compared to 24 per cent of Koreans, 25 per cent of Hong Kong consumers, 31 per cent in Singapore and 42 per cent in Thailand.

The study, which polled more than 13,000 people in 17 countries, was the third part of the Our Green World survey by global market information group TNS. (dpa)