Average British household used 216 plastic haircare bottles a YEAR – and one in ten say they ‘can’t be bothered’ to be more eco-friendly
- The average family throws away hundreds of empty plastic bottles every year
- A household will get through 24 bottles of shower gel and 108 loo rolls annually
- About 60 per cent of plastic waste is recycled with the rest going to landfill
- Men use more products on their hair than women according to the researchers
- The survey found that about a third don’t even consider the environmental impact of their hair and beauty regime when buying products to use
One in ten British people say they ‘can’t be bothered’ to be more eco-friendly as a new survey finds the average household uses 216 plastic haircare bottles a year.
A poll of 2,000 people revealed that the average family is throwing away dozens of empty plastic bottles of shampoo, conditioner, hairspray and gel.
A typical household will also go through 24 bottles of shower gel, 24 tubes of toothpaste, 12 bottles of moisturiser and 108 loo rolls each year.
Only about 60 per cent of this plastic waste from a range of toiletry products is actually being recycled, researchers found, with the rest going into landfill.
A third of those responding to the survey by Swiss beauty firm RÉDUIT admitted they don’t consider the environmental impacts of their hair and beauty regime.
A poll of 2,000 people revealed that the average family is throwing away dozens of empty plastic bottles of shampoo, conditioner, hairspray and gel. Stock image
The survey also revealed that just 11 per cent of respondents simply ‘can’t be bothered’ to make more sustainable changes to their buying habits.
While one in 10 admitted they ‘don’t care’, nearly a fifth don’t know how to improve and 23 per cent wouldn’t know where to start if they were to make a change.
CEO of RÉDUIT Paul Peros said: ‘Taking care of our hair and appearance is just part of our routine, and we often forget about the impact it can have.’
It wasn’t just the containers the products come in – 41 per cent had no idea that chemicals from hair products going down the drain are bad for the evnironment.
In fact, a fifth of Brits will flush things like cotton buds, face wipes or sanitary products down the toilet and 38 per cent don’t know face wipes contain plastics.
‘Our study has shown how people will mindlessly use and bin plastic products, and not think about how they could make small switches which have a huge impact,’ according to Peros.
‘It can seem quite daunting at first – trying something new – but there’s lots of ways you can make more sustainable changes with your hair and beauty regime.’
The survey also looked at general beauty behaviour – finding that men use more product to care for their hair than women.
The survey also revealed that just 11 per cent of respondents simply ‘can’t be bothered’ to make more sustainable changes to their buying habits
It also emerged that the average adult will shampoo their hair four times a week, and use conditioner three times – with 13 per cent refusing to change to a more sustainable shampoo and conditioner for fear it might damage their locks.
Of those that responded to the survey conducted by OnePoll – 61 per cent did say they felt guilty about the amount of plastic bottles they go through.
More than half do try to be more eco-friendly, but admitted they are less strict when it comes to what they use to take care of their appearance and their hair.
In fact, just three in 10 have already looked to make a change in buying eco-friendly beauty products, the surveys discovered.
One in five wouldn’t consider switching to products which are kinder to the planet.
It isn’t just toiletries that people are throwing away without recycling – the ‘Everyday Plastic Survey’ found that waste soared during lockdown.
British households threw away 25 per cent more food packaging, parcel bags and PPE, the survey revealed.
The ‘Everyday Plastic Survey’ saw 483 people record how much plastic waste they get through during an average week and found it was an about 128 pieces.
In total, the 179 homes accumulated nearly 23,000 bits of plastic rubbish, the survey revealed – with most destined for landfill or an incinerator.
Peros said it was a shame so many people seem to be unaware of the impact their beauty regimes have on the environment – not just from the plastic bottles.
‘Many of the eco-friendly hair and beauty products out there aren’t just good for the planet, but have lots of other benefits,’ Peros said.
‘They often last longer because of the way they are designed and are much easier to take away with you because they don’t always consist of liquid shampoos and conditioners – so no more pesky spillages in your suitcase too.’