House of Commons - Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs

Select Committee on Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Report

Memorandum by Global Action Plan (EL 27)

INTRODUCTION

Global Action Plan is an environmental charity established in the UK in 1993. Our aim is to encourage people to take practical environmental action in their homes, workplaces, schools and communities. Global Action Plan believes that with the right information, support and encouragement everybody—not just environmental enthusiasts—can "do their bit" for the environment.

Global Action Plan has developed four programmes:

A common feature of all the programmes is that they measure change and include motivational feedback. Our submission to the committee is based on the results of the 20,250 households that have participated in our Action at Home programme. The information provided looks at:

— Household behaviour.

— How household's use consumer products.

— The external factors that make it difficult for people to take action.

— The way people would like to be given environmental information on products.

— Global Action Plan's views and recommendations.

HOW THE DATA HAS BEEN OBTAINED

The following data has been collected from the Action at Home programme. Action at Home helps households to reduce their impact on the environment and save money. As part of Action at Home households are sent self-completion questionnaires and surveys.

Action at Home

THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS FROM WHICH THE DATA HAS BEEN OBTAINED

The following table shows the total number of participants for Action at Home. The change in behaviour patterns have been calculated from the number of participants who have completed both the first and second questionnaires. The survey results have been taken from the number of people who have returned the surveys.

Nationally
Number of Action at Home Participants	20,250
Number who returned both questionnaires	4,860
Percentage who returned both questionnaires	24 per cent
Average number who returned each survey	1,215
Average percentage of survey returns	6 per cent

THE BEHAVIOUR CHANGE RESULTS

The two questionnaires ask people about their daily habits. For example, "Do you leave the television on standby?" By recording the before and after results from people who have returned both the Welcome and Well Done questionnaires we can calculate the percentage change in behaviour patterns. The behaviour change results are based upon 4,860 questionnaires. We have illustrated below a small sample of behaviour patterns, more data is available should it be required.

Per cent

Question	Before	After	Change
Energy
Do you always cook using lids on saucepans wherever possible?	60	75	15
Do you never leave lights on in empty rooms?	28	43	15
Do you never leave the TV on standby?	65	76	11
Have you already put foil behind your radiators?	13	18	5
Shopping
Do you always buy less packaged products?	20	35	15
Do you always buy loose food rather than pre-packed?	33	47	14
Do you always buy recycled toilet paper?	36	46	10
Do you always buy fair trade products when available?	9	13	4
Water
Have you already adjusted your toilet cistern to save water?	31	59	28
Do you never keep the tap running while brushing your teeth?	32	54	18
Do you always wait for a full load before turning on the washing machine?	62	73	11
Waste
Do you recycle all or almost all of your textiles?	38	55	17
Do you always take your own reusable bags when you go shopping?	32	47	15
Do you recycle all or almost all of your newspapers?	77	88	11
Have you already installed a compost bin or worm bin?	53	63	10
Transport
What percentage of all your short journeys are made by car?	29	18	11
Do you always keep you engine properly tuned?	62	72	10
Do you always drive to the shops?	29	20	9

THE SURVEY RESULTS

The surveys give participants a series of statements and ask them whether they feel that the view made by the statement is preventing them from taking action. For example lack of local facilities, lack of action by government, lack of information, etc. The following results are based on a survey of 1,215.

External Factors Inhibiting Change

There are a number of external factors that make it difficult for people to take action. The following indicates the top five changes in policy people would like to see:

Per cent

I would like cheaper national rail fares	72
I would like a kerbside recycling scheme	68
I would like better environmental labelling on goods	67
I would like more cycles lanes	65
I would like more reliable public transport	50

People are also less likely to take action if they feel all the burden is being put on them and that others are not meeting their side of the bargain. Action at Home surveys showed that:

84 per cent needed more convincing that industry is doing its bit to save energy.

80 per cent needed more convincing that the Government is doing its bit to save energy.

72 per cent need more convincing that the water companies are doing enough to save water.

ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION ON PRODUCTS

Global Action Plan has responded to the winding down of the UK Ecolabelling Board by developing a survey with INCPEN designed to ascertain how people would like to receive environmental information on products. The survey asks people to respond to the following statement:

"When I'm choosing a product, it would be very helpful if I could get clear and reliable information on its impact on the environment by having:

— a telephone helpline;

— information written on the product itself;

— a recognised symbol/logo on the product;

— information leaflets;

— advice at the shop;

— other".

A limited number of these survey postcards have already been sent out. A total of 56 have been returned. To-date the most popular option has been a recognised symbol/leaflet on the product. The second most popular option is information written on the product itself. The bulk of the survey postcards are due for distribution in April 1999. Once the results have been collated they will be forwarded to the relevant Minister.

GLOBAL ACTION PLAN'S VIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on our practical experience over the past five years and the data we have collected Global Action Plan has the following views and recommendations:

Views

— How people use consumer products is a crucial element in reducing the environmental impact of the products.

— There is very little work or data on how consumers use products.

— Encouraging consumers to use products in a way that will reduce their environmental impact requires people to change behaviour and values.

— There has been little work on how best to encourage positive behaviour change.

— Consumers have a generally poor understanding of running costs for consumer products and focus most of their attention on running costs.

Recommendations

— Further investigation is required into consumer usage of products.

— The Governments should look at campaigns that will change behaviour patterns rather than pure information campaigns. Changing behaviour is an area where Global Action Plan has a unique level of expertise. We believe that to encourage people to change behaviour, campaigns need to have the following elements in place. They need to:

Measure change and include motivational feedback.

Be thought-provoking and educational.

Be easy-to-follow and relevant.