Over half of UK adults are thinking about a more environmentally-friendly Christmas
Dreaming of a Green Christmas: Consumers would like to see more done by large companies to promote sustainable packaging.
The Chartered Institute of Marketing has revealed its annual poll of ‘packaging offenders’, which also shows consumers want more sustainable packaging.
Consumers believe companies use too much packaging when delivering or selling products – with Amazon and eBay being named as some of the worst offenders.
The survey featured 2,000 UK adults, with almost half (48%) saying Amazon is the worst brand for creating excess packaging.
Nine percent said Tesco uses too much packaging, followed by eBay at 7%. The remaining companies are Asda (6%), Sainsbury’s (6%), M&S (6%), ASOS (5%), Boohoo (5%) and John Lewis (5%).
The results show that the vast majority (82%) of UK adults agree companies use too much packaging when delivering or selling in-store products.
Consumer’s behaviour towards packaging and recycling has also changed significantly in the last twelve months, with the number of people keeping packaging to wrap their own gifts doubling from 12% in 2020, to 25% this year.
- Two fifths (41%) are reusing Christmas decorations rather than buying new ones
- Over a fifth (22%) are buying from local businesses
- One quarter (26%) are using a plastic reusable Christmas tree rather than buying a real tree
Gemma Butler, marketing director and expert in sustainable marketing at CIM says: “Whilst we all love to share gifts with the ones we love, the environmental challenges facing society aren’t put on pause during the festive period – if anything we should be even more aware as we go into the season that feeds our unhealthy relationship with consumption. It’s clear from our research that consumers are increasingly conscious of the impact the festivities and its associated consumerism is having on the planet, and they’re expecting companies to be more transparent about it too. It’s time for brands to step up and rethink how we can celebrate the magic of Christmas without leaving a mountain of waste behind.”
