Good news! The majority of people are dreaming of a Green Christmas according to the independent research released by SSE Airtricity this festive season.
It’s all coming up green as it has been revealed that 86% of us are cutting back on packaging and waste; with 74% of us looking to get greener gifts this year. A whopping 73% of shoppers will prioritise buying from Irish businesses this year compared to just 7% who may go elsewhere. In addition to that, 70% said they will make more eco-friendly choices as they plan for Christmas this year. However, 50% of those surveyed are worried about their ability to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle into the new year.
David Manning, Director of Home Energy, SSE Airtricity, said, “The SSE Airtricity Green Christmas Survey confirms that it really is the season of goodwill, as Irish consumers are very keen to buy Irish, shop sustainably, and reduce their impact on the environment. It’s really heartening to see this strong appetite for supporting local businesses and sustainable practices.”
At SSE Airtricity we believe this is Generation Green and we can all play our small part in changing our world for the better. We’ve seen how the small changes we all make make every day and even energy habits can combine to have a positive impact on our planet’s future.
More good news for the planet… in additional survey results, 70% said they will shop for environmentally friendly gifts this Christmas while in terms of green energy usage for their home or car; 61% agreed they were ‘more’ or ‘much more’ conscious of their energy consumption than last year.
Looking to the new year, 73% said they may make more sustainable choices in 2021, with a further 36% said they were considering switching to an electric vehicle within the next two or more years.
The results of the Green Christmas Survey give additional insight from a consumer perspective, following the recent publication of SSE Airtricity’s Green Business Sentiment Index. The Green Business Sentiment Index found that 8 out of 10 Irish businesses consider themselves environmentally friendly.
60% of businesses confirmed sustainability and climate change impact upon their decision making. “When we compare the results of both pieces of research, we’re really optimistic for what lies ahead”, continued David Manning.
“It’s clear that businesses and consumers mutually desire a greener, more sustainable future; and as we emerge from the challenges of 2020 green investment offers the opportunity to stimulate our economy and create jobs.”
At SSE Airtricity, we’re here to help. Whether that’s as Ireland’s largest supplier of renewable energy or through our energy efficient advice and services to help green your home.
Did you know?
SSE Airtricity is the largest generator and supplier of green energy in Ireland, proudly providing 100% green electricity, natural gas and energy-related services to over 700,000 home and business customers. Since 2008 SSE has invested significantly in Ireland, with a total economic contribution of more than €3.8bn to the economy. SSE owns and operates 28 onshore wind farms totaling 890MW across the island of Ireland, offsetting over 700,000 tonnes in carbon emissions annually.
The SSE Airtricity Green Christmas Survey was carried out among a representative sample of 1,000 adults between November 19th and 25th by iReach using telephone and online methodologies, in line with Covid-19 restrictions.