A study of 2,000 adults by Delphis Eco found 76% of people felt sustainability and climate change was ‘very important to them’. The research also found that 56% of people feel too many businesses are ‘greenwashing’ for marketing purposes rather than making a concerted effort to make a real difference to the planet.
A third of respondents felt businesses wanting to save money, in the long run, was a factor for being more sustainable, compared to 26% who think it’s due to a real desire to help the planet.
Mark Jankovich, chief executive of Delphis Eco, said: “Caterers, including contractors and those working in the public sector can only buy what is available to them, so it’s important we give them options and help them understand how making the right purchasing decisions can help their own environmental pedigree.
“It’s clearly important to customers that caterers, including contractors and those working in the public sector do business in the right way and this aspiration can only become stronger alongside the headlines we see linked to climate change and the erosion of our planet’s resources. Increasingly, we are seeing caterers, including contractors and those working in the public sector making a commitment to sustainability and importantly, setting targets to reaching Net Zero.
“It’s encouraging to see just how important and valued most people are when it comes to our planet and increasingly, the need to protect our resources is being driven by the end consumer – our customers.”
The research also found 45% of those polled felt businesses are not doing enough to improve their sustainability footprint alongside the inflationary challenges they are currently facing.
15 ways Brits suggested to help businesses to be more eco-friendly:
1. Use recyclable packaging – 46%
2. Use less plastic – 45%
3. Use renewable energy – 42%
4. Use products which are more sustainable – 38%
5. Have more recycling bins in place – 37%
6. Refillable products – 36%
7. Recycle electronics – 36%
8. Use reusable shopping bags – 36%
9. Plant trees – 33%
10. Provide more information about how products are sourced – 31%
11. Use green cleaning products – 29%
12. Stop investing in fossil fuels – 28%
13. Choose to partner and work with other sustainable businesses – 27%
14. Donate more to environmental charities - 25%
15. Use cycle to work scheme – 21%