Survey finds we’re ‘bang average’ at going green
Most of us admit we’re plodding along when it comes to living more sustainably. In a newly released survey, 61% of people rated themselves bang in the middle — doing a bit here and there, but hardly eco-warriors.
Yet more than a few of us have ambition. Seven in ten reckon sustainable living isn’t just for the eco diehards — it’s something we should all have a crack at — and half plan to do exactly that in the next year.
That’s the idea behind Greenhorn. The project tracks what happens when an ordinary bloke with zero eco-credentials tries to go from complete novice to less useless, to see what kind of dent one person can actually make.
The poll also revealed:
Small steps matter. People felt making tiny changes is the best way to start living more sustainably, though 41% admitted old habits are hard to break.
Money is both villain and hero. A third said living sustainably is too expensive and 59% called cost the biggest barrier — yet 64% also said saving money would motivate them to go greener.
We’re doing some things already. 89% recycle, 71% avoid single-use plastics and 60% eat less meat — proof we’re not totally hapless.
Confidence comes from seeing others. 57% said they’d feel more able to start their sustainable journey if they saw others making changes.
Danny Bartlett, the “ordinary bloke” behind Greenhorn, said:
“I was coasting along in my middle-class utopia until my daughter said I wasn’t doing enough for the environment - which cranked up the guilt. I’m not about to live off-grid. Instead, I want to see if it’s possible to live more sustainably, without giving up my annual all-inclusive.
I’m documenting the journey on greenhorn.me: the missteps, the small victories, the lapses — to give an undiluted view of what’s actually possible, without swapping the house for a yurt.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Greenhorn is an independent, personal project. It is fully self-funded, and all views expressed are Danny Bartlett’s own.
High-res images can be found here:
Survey conducted with 111 respondents. Download full results here:
For more information, visit: https://greenhorn.me/ or email dannyatbartlett@gmail.com