A fifth of Brits will take fewer holidays and fly less next year to cut impact on environment

Three quarters of Brits (75%) are planning to make at least one lifestyle change over the next year to reduce their impact on the environment, according to personal finance comparison website finder.com.

This includes more than a fifth (22%) of Brits who plan to make changes to the way they take holidays and fly. The most popular option within this category is to take shorter flights than were previously taken, with around 1 in 7 planning to do this (14%). Other positive environmental intentions within the travel sector include 12% who will go on less holidays than they used to and 11% who actually plan to stop flying altogether.

The research found the most common adjustments Brits are planning to take will involve reducing their waste in some way. This includes things like buying products with less packaging to using less water, and half of the UK (50%) say they intend to do something like this. The most popular task people currently do to help the environment is recycling plastic and glass, with 9 in 10 (90%) of the public claiming to do this.

The second most popular category was modifying transportation methods, with 45% of Brits said they will reduce their carbon output by doing things like using their car less in favour of cycling, walking, taking public transport, carpooling or purchasing an electric or hybrid vehicle. However, only 1 in 10 (10%) currently own an environmentally-friendly vehicle making the least popular action taken at the moment.

Around 2 in 5 (42%) will improve their shopping habits to reduce their environmental impact over the next 12 months. In fact, over a quarter (27%) of Brits will buy more ethical and sustainable clothes, making this the most popular single change Brits plan to make.

The category of actions that will see the least change will be Brits opting for energy efficient appliances, only 14% say they will opt for more of these items over the next 12 months.

The generation that will make the least changes is the silent generation with only 3 in 5 (59%) intending to make environmentally friendly alterations. On the other hand, 89% of gen Z plan to make lifestyle changes that will reduce their environmental impact.

After recycling glass and plastic, the second most common action Brits currently take to help the environment is not filling the kettle up fully when making a drink (81%). In third place, 4 in 5 Brits (80%) use energy efficient appliances and actively try to reduce their food waste.