After three months of lockdown, 48% of people in the UK say being stuck at home has made them re-evaluate how sustainable their lives are.
A recent study, conducted by energy supplier E.ON, has analysed the UK’s top priorities as we enter a post-lockdown world. Amazingly, sustainability is sitting at the top of the priority list, and has now become an essential part of the ‘new normal’ in the UK.
The survey also found that 51% of the British public are now more aware of the impact they’re having on the environment in general.
Energy consumption has also become more of a focus for our ‘new normal’, with around 42% of the respondents admitting they have become more aware of the amount of electricity they use in their home.
But what aspects of lockdown have been opening peoples’ eyes?
What areas of sustainability are people focusing on?
Although there is a lot of plans for the UK’s sustainable future, many people are already taking action. Here are the top steps the public are taking to be more environmentally friendly at home:
How are businesses reacting to lockdown?
Companies are also stepping up to the plate, with 72% of UK firms claiming the pandemic has made them reconsider their environmental credentials.
An impressive 69% additionally believe they hold the most responsibility for driving a ‘green recovery’. Although, for net-zero targets to be met, environmental efforts also need to be shared with the government and consumers.
When asked why they want to make their businesses more sustainable, two-thirds of participants revealed that their main motivation was because it is the ‘right thing to do’. However, industry expectations (32%) and customer demands (25%) are also key incentives for being more environmentally friendly.
E.ON’s report suggests that business sustainability also makes companies more attractive for future workers. Almost four in five businesses state that employees care more about working for sustainable businesses now than they did a year ago.
“At home and in business, this pandemic has made us all consider what’s most important, and it’s heartening to see across the nation we’re planning on putting sustainability at the heart of our ‘new normal’”. – Michael Lewis, CEO, E.ON
This environmental focus comes in light of the government’s new £2 billion Green Homes Grant. Perhaps this is the turning point we’ve been waiting for; the attitude of the general public has certainly shifted.
