LIFESTYLE/ENVIRONMENT
Two-thirds of Brits say they enjoy the mood boost they get when doing something environmentally conscious. A new poll of 2,000 adults found that people take pride when, for instance, buying products that reduce their impact on the planet, when washing out tubs to reuse them, or when adding food scraps to their own compost bin.
Half of those surveyed also got a buzz from taking a ‘bag for life’ to the shops with them, and around 40% say they’re making more effort to visit zero-waste shops to refill bottles, jars and bags with produce instead of buying it packaged.
The survey was commissioned by household cleaning brand Ecover to mark the launch of the Ecover Refillery, a reused petrol station that aims to replace plastic waste with refills.
“A small change can make a big difference,” says Tom Domen, Ecover’s global head of long-term innovation. “The simple act of refilling a plastic bottle can make you feel good, while also reducing the amount of plastic waste sent to landfill.
The poll also found 41% think the UK government should be doing more to make refilling as accessible as recycling. One in five say they want to make refilling a priority for the year ahead. In fact, more than half (53%) would use ‘refill’ shops more if they had one closer to home, while more refill stations in supermarkets would make 62% more likely to reuse rather than recycle.
However, millions of Brits are already making the shift — including refilling water bottles, drinking from reusable coffee cups, and opting for reusable bags.
“Refill stations are becoming increasingly common across the country, and a simple search will tell you where your local store is,” Domen adds. “By the end of 2022, we aim to help people refill their Ecover bottles over three million times in the UK — which would be the equivalent of one refill every 10 seconds.”
| The Top 20 eco-friendly acts that put Brits in a good mood. How many can you check off?
Taking a reusable bag shopping
Turning lights off when not in use
Reusing leftover food
Washing out plastic containers and recycling them
Turning things off at the power point when not in use
Using a reusable water bottle
Turning down the heating/using the heating less often
Washing out packaging/plastic bottles for reuse
Cycling or walking instead of driving
Washing clothes at 30°C
Using a food container instead of clingfilm or foil
Using reusable cloths instead of single-use wipes
Eating less meat
Washing clothes less often
Composting food waste
Upcycling or repairing items and clothes
Shopping for plastic package-free fruit and/or veg
Buying secondhand items
Buying eco-friendly products
Putting leftover food in the compost