The growing plastic menace

Are Britons conscious enough?

Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Nestle have topped the list of the most polluting companies in the world for the third time in a row in Break free from plastic’s annual survey. This report delves into people’s opinions of these brands and the plastic menace in itself. Consumer brands and government agencies can leverage this data in their decision making.

Plastic pollution by top FMCG brands made no headlines last year, as the world worked through plastic problems of a different kind. The COVID-19 pandemic and its resultant focus on hygiene and safety led to several countries delaying or reversing their ban on plastic use. Almost overnight, single-use plastics were back in demand, with plastic bags, packaging solutions, PPE kits, and medical equipment flooding the streets. Despite the sustainability debate taking a backseat, how conscious are Britons of the plastic menace, and what are their thoughts on the world’s serial plastic polluters? Piplsay polled 6,055 people nationwide to get some insights. Here is a summary of what we found:

Other Insights

• 76% of Gen Zers and 70% of Millennials say a brand’s commitment to sustainability affects their purchasing behaviour
• 72% of Gen Zers and 70% each of Millennials and Gen Xers believe the UK should ban single-use plastics
• 51% of women have tried to minimize their use of single-use plastics amid the pandemic as compared to 49% of women

Survey Methodology: This Piplsay survey (powered by Market Cube) was conducted nationwide in the UK from January 29-31, 2021. We received 6,055 online responses from individuals aged 18 years and older.