The effect of greener living on consumer habits
Climate change was arguably the biggest news topic of 2019, and environmental discussions continue into 2020.
Recent YouGov research has revealed that consumers are changing their shopping and eating habits in order to reduce carbon footprint, with 61% of Brits believing climate change to be the largest threat to civilisation.
MPA has conducted research through YouGov Profiles to understand the change in modern lifestyles, and to identify the businesses who are meeting the public demand for greener options.
Here are some of the research’s findings:
- 49% of Brits try to only buy from socially and environmentally responsible companies
- 25% of consumers say they only buy products from companies whose ethics/values they agree with
- 45% agree that big companies are trying to improve and ‘go green’
- 29% of the people surveyed were of the belief that people worry too much about the environment
The materials and packaging industries have seen the biggest overhaul over the last year, as single-use plastic was highlighted as one of the key factors for ocean pollution. Plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds are all set to be banned in April this year as part of a new government initiative.
The MPA research found that 83% of the people surveyed agreed with the government’s plan to ban these plastics, with only 17% contesting that the ban won’t make a difference to the amount of waste produced. With staggering consumer support behind environmentally-friendly initiatives, it’s no surprise that so many large businesses are making changes to implement them.
Morrisons recently became the first supermarket to remove black plastic from all its own-brand food and drink packaging, with a wider view to make all its packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.
Stuart Bentley, delivery manager at MPA, stated: “The UK is a hub of innovation, so it is great to see that so many businesses across the country are taking the lead in industry changes and offering customers the option to live a more sustainable lifestyle.”
