Member Article

New survey reveals 89% of Brits are taking action to reduce the negative environmental impact of their household in wake of COP26 summit

A new survey revealing the climate change concerns of the British public has today been released by environmentally conscious domestic service provider Fantastic Services – outlining the everyday actions people are taking to help tackle the crisis.

The survey shows that an overwhelming 89% of Brits say they are taking actions to reduce the negative environmental impact of their household, with 42% making a conscious effort to maximise their positive impact and 47% making some positive changes but recognise that they could do more.

The poll of more than 2000 people showed the top positive household environmental actions are:

1. Putting recyclable packaging into the correct bin (77%)
2. Turning off the lights when you leave the room (72%)
3. Keeping food in reusable containers rather than cling film (53%)
4. Eating less meat (39%)
5. Using a renewable energy provider (33%)
6. Using public transport (31%)
7. Use eco-friendly cleaning products (29%)
8. Using eco-friendly toilet paper/kitchen roll (25%)
9. Growing own food/vegetables (22%)
10. Using plastic free toiletries (20%)
11. Using laundry bags (10%).

Although half (51%) feel it is difficult to know how to make a truly positive difference to the environment in their household.

Co-Founder of Fantastic Services , Rune Sovndahl, says “It’s clear consumers are becoming ever more environmentally conscious and want to purchase sustainably and act sustainably. Our recent survey shows that 62% of Brits are more concerned about environmental issues now compared to five years ago with 74% of UK adults believing that human activity has caused the climate crisis. As a nationwide franchise, it’s important we do all we can to offer sustainable solutions to customers. By using eco-friendly detergents, electric powered machines, switching to electric vehicles, travelling fewer distances, repairing to last and providing responsible waste disposal – we’re trying to play our part to make domestic living cleaner and greener – but it’s still not enough. Moving forwards, if our customers don’t want to go green, they’ll have to opt out as green will become the standard for delivery of all our domestic services.”

On the eve of the final day of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow – when it comes to responsibility for addressing climate change an overwhelming majority of 35% of Brits think it’s down to National Governments to act now, with just 11% feeling it’s their personal responsibly to tackle the crisis, despite the changes people are making to their day-to-day household activities outlined above.

In fact, 18% of UK adults feel that none of the industries, individuals or organisations surveyed are making a positive contribution to addressing climate change.

Half (51%) of Brits say they worry about the impact of their household cleaning products on the environment. Once introduced to sustainable household product subscriptions which offer ‘ecofriendly’ versions of common household products delivered via regular subscription services, two fifths (40%) of UK adults surveyed said they would be very (10%) or somewhat (30%) likely to consider using one. This rises to three fifths (59%) amongst 18–34-year-olds (versus just 23% of those aged 55+), as well as 51% of those living in London. Consideration is also higher amongst those who are already making a conscious effort to reduce their negative environmental impact (52%) whilst this falls to just 16% amongst those not taking any action. Just 4% report already using a sustainable household product service.

Rune continues, “We’re riding the wave of sustainability because sooner or later it’ll become a tsunami. For the past decade, sustainability became somewhat of a buzzword in the business community. But unlike most buzzwords, this one really matters. It does because we owe it to ourselves and our children to build sustainable businesses.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Fantastic Services .