Home appliance brand Beko has carried out a Europe-wide survey on people’s attitudes and concerns about sustainability and the awareness of individual effects on the environment.

Managing director UK & Ireland Teresa Arbuckle

According to the survey, 88% of UK respondents felt it was their personal responsibility to make a difference, by minimising waste, water or energy use in their daily lives.

Beko reported the number of people who think it is down to the Government or businesses to make a difference was negligible.

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The study also found human environmental damage is perceived as the most critical threat to a sustainable planet by all respondents, followed by the plastic issue and infectious diseases.

These were followed by extreme weather, natural disasters, natural resource crisis, biodiversity loss, food waste and lastly water stress.

Recycling was discovered to be the most popular way people are practising sustainability at home.

This activity scored highest in the UK market at over 80%, with Italy following at 78% and Germany in last position at 66%.

When asked what else consumers could do to protect the planet, respondents listed in order of effectiveness, buying sustainable products, fighting food waste, reducing air travel and eating less meat.

Energy and food were the top two important categories where using environmentally friendly products is more important, with home appliances coming next, before clothing and travel.

The survey also found the main obstacle to living more sustainably at home was the perception of high prices of sustainable products in all countries.

In fact, price was considered the most important decider when buying a home appliance, followed by longevity and environmental friendliness.

Despite this, over three-quarters of Brits agreed on the importance of purchasing sustainable home appliances that have a meaningful positive impact on our planet.

Managing director UK & Ireland at Beko, Teresa Arbuckle said: “Our research showed us that we are absolutely aligned with our customers on our sustainability goals.

“It’s encouraging that people want to be doing the right thing for the environment and believe that their actions can make an impact. Price itself has a significant impact on buying behaviour.

“At Beko, we are passionate about democratising technology, making it affordable and ensuring that as many as possible have access to it.

“By making sustainability a business model and integrating it into eveything we do, we strive to reduce human environmental damage through developing high-performance, durable, affordable home appliances that are also eco-friendly.

“Beko’s brand purpose is empowering future generations to live healthier lives – which is only possible by living more sustainably and working towards a healthier planet.”