Nearly 70 per cent of Brits would like to be more environmentally friendly - but still don’t do the little, everyday things that can help make a difference, according to new research from Future Friendly, Procter & Gamble’s consumer education programme.
Together with leading sustainability experts the Energy Saving Trust, Waste Watch and Waterwise, it seeks to inspire and enable people around the country to contribute to a better tomorrow.
A quarter of UK homes still leave their appliances on standby (26 per cent) – in fact, almost half of children do not switch off at the mains (45 per cent).
Just one fifth of the population rides a bike instead of uses a car (19 per cent), while only four in ten makes a conscious effort to eat local produce (39 per cent).
Only 41 per cent of the nation chooses to buy environmentally friendly household products.
A third of the population is currently put off by the belief that it is expensive and time consuming to be sustainable in their everyday lives (34 per cent). More than three quarters would only be encouraged to go green if it was cheap and easy to do (77 per cent).
However, the research also recognises that considerable efforts are being made around the country to help protect the environment. These UK cities were revealed as taking the following eco actions most effectively:
• Edinburgh has bags of energy: 85 per cent of people in Edinburgh use a bag for life to carry their shopping home (nationally: 74 per cent)
• Nottingham lets it all hang out: a further 85 per cent of Nottingham residents dry their clothes on the washing line versus 70 per cent nationally
• Cardiff doesn’t waste water: an impressive 97 per cent of Cardiff consumers say they shower for less time to save water compared to 50 per cent nationally
• Grow your own: Birmingham and Bristol are the top cities for leading the ‘good life’ – a staggering 51 per cent of people grow their own vegetables in both (nationally: 37 per cent)
• Liverpool has got it covered: 91 per cent of Liverpudlians have installed loft insulation compared to 76 per cent nationally
• Bristol keeps cool: 74 per cent of Bristolians turn down to 30 degrees when clothes washing (nationally: 63 per cent)
• Manchester monitors: a third of Mancunians use an energy monitor to save energy and money (38 per cent) versus 22 per cent nationally
• Leeds knows not to hose: two thirds of those surveyed in Leeds avoid using a hosepipe (63 per cent) compared to 48 per cent nationally
The research also reveals the importance of encouraging the next generation to go green. A quarter of parents surveyed felt that their children were currently the greenest member of the family (28 per cent), whilst 81 per cent said they would like their children to be more eco-friendly.
Meanwhile, over a quarter of children (aged 14-16) are currently involved with a local school or community group to help protect the environment (27 per cent) and are taking action to be more sustainable: 75 per cent both recycle their books and clothes and also avoid leaving the tap running; 47 per cent shower for less time, using less water; and 30 per cent even grow their own vegetables.
Future Friendly wants to encourage every household in the UK to do ‘inspired little acts’ so they can save resources and money and also appreciate how small, everyday changes in the home can turn into a united wave of sustainable change from street to town to region.
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