04 October 2023 , 11:44
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Brits living in the countryside find it more than twice as hard as people in the city – to stick to eco-friendly habits, research has found.
Half of those who reside in a rural area claim they want to do better when it comes to being sustainable – with 69% recycling as much as they can, while 72% try to limit their food waste.
However, four in ten find it challenging to maintain eco-friendly measures – compared to just 16% of those living in cities – due to the lack of infrastructure.
Nearly half blame (45%) blame the lack of public transport in their area, while 48% claim the cost is the biggest barrier to living a sustainable life.
And consequently, less than one in ten (8%) of those in the countryside would describe themselves as “very eco-friendly”.
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It comes as a survey of 1,000 Brits found that over half have made changes to their lifestyle in the last 12 months, in a bid to be more sustainable.
A fleet of 12 electric Hyundai vehicles powered the entire village fete in Chettle, Dorset (Hyundai)Some of the top new habits adopted include limiting food waste (66%), using bags for life at the supermarket (64%), and turning off lights in the house (64%).
Others are washing laundry on cold cycles (45%), growing their own fruit and vegetables (30%), and cycling more (18%).
A third have even changed their food habits to become more eco-friendly – including only buying local produce, not purchasing items in plastic packaging, and doing meat-free Mondays.
But 68% already consider themselves to be eco-friendly – with an average of five sustainable habits under their belt already.
The research was commissioned by Hyundai, to launch the world’s first car-powered fete, using 12 of the brand’s electric vehicles to showcase the role innovation can play in a more sustainable life.
And despite the difficulty of staying green in the countryside, 39% said they are keen to move somewhere more rural – because it’s quieter, to enjoy scenic views, and to experience cleaner air than in the city, according to the study, carried out via OnePoll.
Ashley Andrew, President of Hyundai Motor UK, which powered the village fete using its all new KONA Electric, IONIQ 5, and IONIQ 6, said: “We chose the rural community of Chettle as we were impressed by the focus on safeguarding its beautiful landscape for the future, as well as acting in a more environmentally responsible way, which aligns with our ethos.
“We hope that the event inspires the broader community to think creatively about what they can do in their own lives to live better for the future.
“As we move forward to a net-zero future, we believe EVs offer many benefits, and consumer education remains an important part of that journey.”
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