MORE than two thirds of Brits shop sustainably for food but turn a blind eye when it comes to homeware products, according to research.
A poll of 2,000 adults found more than a third (36%) have never considered the sustainability credentials of a mattress or a TV before making a purchase, while another 35% said the same of laptops and smartphones.
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White goods, bedding and sofas are also among the homeware items bought without any consideration for the environment.
In comparison, less than one in five would purchase makeup without thinking about how sustainable it was, while only 20% would do the same with eggs and pet food.
It also emerged price (64%) is still the most important consideration to shoppers when deciding what to buy, followed by the look of the product (36%).
But 21% take into account environmental concerns while 14% look for items which are locally sourced.
And it emerged the kitchen is the room of the house respondents are most likely to fill with eco-friendly products (23%).
A spokesman for The John Lewis Partnership, which commissioned the research, said: “As a society, we are becoming increasingly conscious about the origin and sustainable credentials of the products we buy.
“But as this research shows, this doesn’t always apply to all areas of the household.
“The public has an important role in shaping standards across the UK as the more they demand high standards and sustainable action, the more pressure they put on businesses to deliver them.
“As a nation, we’ve made great strides over the last few years in ensuring the UK sources more sustainable food and packaging and we need to ensure that interest isn’t restricted to the kitchen only.”
While 43% of respondents consider themselves to be a sustainable shopper, only 16% make a conscious effort to check a brand’s eco credentials before buying its products.
But despite some trying to shop sustainably, 37% feel there is not enough action being taken by brands.
And more than a third (32%) even went as far as to say brands are not doing enough to raise awareness of their sustainable products – at a time when 51 per cent would prefer to buy more natural items for their home.
The research coincides with the launch of John Lewis’s new sustainable mattress range, which for the first time will be made with wool from sheep farms supplying its sister brand Waitrose.
With countless British farmers forced to burn their wool due to its low value, the move aims to shine a light on the quality of British wool as well as raise its value for the benefit of sheep farmers all over the UK.
The John Lewis Partnership spokesman added: “We hope initiatives like this will encourage more people to think where their products have come from and how sustainable they are, from the coffee they drink in the morning to the mattresses they sleep on at night.”
The study, commissioned via OnePoll, also found 52% of adults are willing to pay as much as 13% more for products which use sustainable wool to help the livelihood of British farmers who produce them.
It also emerged 66% are completely unaware many lamb producers burn wool due to the low prices they receive.
TOP 30 ITEMS BOUGHT BUT NEVER CONSIDERED ITS SUSTAINABLE CREDENTIALS
- TVs
- Mattresses
- Smartphones
- Laptops
- White goods/kitchen appliances
- Bedding
- Sofas/ chairs
- Shampoo
- Towels
- Washing up liquid
- Washing detergent
- Clothes/ shoes
- Wooden furniture
- Lightbulbs
- Gardening supplies
- Toilet paper
- Cars
- Rice
- Soap
- Teabags
- Toys
- Milk/ dairy products
- Moisturiser
- Coffee
- Fruit/ veg
- Pet food
- Plastic bottles
- Eggs
- Facewash
- Beauty products
While most Brits are actively looking to shop more sustainably, some are worried that green solutions like electric cars and solar panels will make general life more expensive.
Another survey claims that, 4 in 10 Brits feel “eco-shamed” by pals for lack of green habits already.
But a third are inspired by their neighbours’ green gadgets including solar panels and electric cars, and that drives them to invest in the sustainable methods too.
Wool from Waitrose lambs to be used and repurposed sustainably for John Lewis mattresses
