Half of Britons are trying to lead a greener lifestyle – but struggle when it comes to food

Over half still enjoy eating foods deemed bad for the planet – with chicken, chocolate and milk being the hardest to give up for an alternative

Half of Brits are trying to lead a greener lifestyle – but admit it’s going out the window when it comes to the meals they love.

A survey of 2,000 adults found that two-thirds (67%) consider themselves to be environmentally friendly – but 55% still enjoy eating things that could have a negative impact on the environment.

Just a third (35%) have reduced foods they believe are bad for the planet – with chocolate, milk and chicken being the top items people would struggle to give up to find a greener alternative.

Cheese, eggs, sausage and bacon are also among the foods the nation would find difficult to live without, despite the negative impact.

At least three-quarters (75%) of respondents said they care about what happens to their food waste, with half checking use-by and best-before dates to help throw away less.

Only 5% admitted they are taking no action to reduce their food waste.

Despite reluctance to switch to greener eating habits, over half of adults (51%) have reduced the use of plastic or non-recyclable materials in the kitchen.

And 80% pay more attention than ever to packaging and its environmental friendliness.

It also found that almost two-thirds (64%) make an effort to buy recyclable and eco-friendly kitchen products on a regular basis.

A speaker for master classThe manufacturer of innovative and practical cookware and bakeware, which commissioned the study, said: “It’s encouraging to see that so many people are trying to do their part to protect the environment – but it seems that when it comes to food, many are aware of one encounter a stumbling block.

“Changing habits is no easy task, but even small changes can make a big difference.

“Whether it’s reducing a food that has an impact on the planet during its production process or simply being more mindful of what the items you buy are made of, it’s a small step to reducing your impact on the planet .”

The study also found that 78% try to buy responsibly sourced products, with 22% specifically buying kitchenware made from recycled materials.

Almost four in ten (37%) also try to buy recyclable and eco-friendly cleaning products to reduce their household’s carbon footprint.

But two-thirds of respondents (64%) said the number one reason stopping them from going green is cost.

More knowledge and information (40%) and more comfort (38%) are also rated highly as factors for increasing environmental friendliness.

It also found that more than three-quarters (77%) of those surveyed via OnePoll are concerned about the impact people are having on the planet and environment, with 44% believing people need to do more to reduce their footprint to reduce.

The top causes of concern included global climate change (59%) and pollution (50%).

The MasterClass spokesperson added: “By making sure we are taking steps to reduce our waste and reuse materials where possible, we are making a conscious, proactive effort to do our part.

“For example, up to 70% of our Can-to-Pan cookware and frying pan range is made up of recycled aluminum from discarded beverage cans, while our Eco-Snap storage range is made from recycled plastic bottles.

“The results show that there is a desire in the nation to do our part to protect the environment.”