British adults want to do more for the planet – but many feel bamboozled by ‘complicated’ eco advice

A poll of 2,000 adults found 57 per cent believe they lead an environmentally friendly lifestyle, but admit they have lots of room for improvement.
Almost a fifth (19 per cent) said they haven’t got time to be more disciplined in this area, while more than a third (36 per cent) cited lack of knowledge as a barrier to being more sustainable.
On this note, 65 per cent would like tips on how to be greener, but with 26 per cent claiming to feel overwhelmed by existing advice, how it’s communicated is likely to require careful thought.
For those who have tried to be more eco-friendly, the most popular steps taken include walking instead of driving, switching off lights when not in use, and recycling as much as possible.
Cheryl Allen, head of sustainability for KITKAT, which commissioned the research, said: “We’re often told that simple, everyday actions will help save the planet – and it’s true we can all make an important difference through our choices.
“However, our research shows there are clear barriers getting in the way, such as a lack of knowledge, information overload or simply not having the time.
“There is clearly a desire to make these improvements – the hard part is breaking them down into smaller, realistic steps that we can all build into our daily habits without having to think too much about it.”
According to the study, even those who have tried to live more sustainably have quickly fallen back into old ways.
Choosing items based on carbon footprint (29 per cent) or packaging recyclability (13 per cent) are among the hardest habits to follow.
Three in 10 also said they can’t get on board with taking colder showers, while 17 per cent said it was tough to cut back on their meat consumption.
Just under a fifth (18 per cent) admitted