New study: shoppers spend £100 a month to reduce environmental impact
A 20-year study into ethical buying habits shows households are on average spending £100 a month on lowering their carbon impact.
The Co-op’s latest Ethical Consumerism Report has revealed that spending on plant-based foods, renewable energy, eco transport, sustainable home energy purposes and second-hand clothing only amounts to £1,210 per household, despite the Government committing to the UK being net zero by 2050.
The report also found that environmentally conscious consumers have more than trebled their spend in a decade, up from £372 in 2010, but need help from businesses and politicians to make planet friendly choices.
When the Co-op first started compiling the report in 2000, the total size of the ethical food market was found to be just £1 billion but this has now grown to almost £14 billion.
Co-op Group chief executive Steve Murrells, who is speaking at the COP26 summit, said: “The world can’t hold its breath waiting for global leaders to make statement on how to tackle climate change, action is needed now. Our Ethical Consumerism Report is a barometer on consumer behaviour and the report offers clear evidence to policymakers that they can positively influence change. The rise in electric car sales is a direct result of a favourable tax regime while the continuing sales and installation of gas boilers shows even more needs to be done to help consumers and businesses make positive changes for the good of the environment.”
He added: “Shoppers are turning up the heat to boycott businesses which fail to act on ethical or social concerns. The findings are a warning to brands that they must do business a better way for workers, communities and the planet but it offers clear evidence to policy-makers that they can positively influence change.”
