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Who has the best sustainable habits? It turns out that Generation Z (those born between 1995 and 2010) care more about the environment than other age demographics. Not only are they willing to spend money to support brands that match their ethical and sustainable values, but they’re also changing their own habits to be more sustainable in the long run. A recent survey shows that than 75% of Gen Z prefer to buy sustainable than buy brand names. And, according to other surveys and research, Gen Z aren’t only making sustainable changes to their consumption habits, they’re also inspiring others groups to change their behavior too. And, there are a lot of good sustainable habits that we can learn from them.
Limit Single-Use Plastic
When it comes to taking strides to reduce plastic waste, Gen Z outshines other age demographics. They’ve stopped using single-use plastic items at a faster rate than older generations. In one recent survey, 60% of the youth in the U.K say that they’ve limited the use of single-use plastics within the last 12 months. Young activists are pushing brands and their communities to limit their use of single-use plastic items like straws, bottles and bags. In fact their youth-led campaigns like #StopSucking gained so much momentum that straw use is estimated to have been reduced by millions daily.
Read more about reducing single use plastic use:
5 Cotton & Recycled Totes That Are Great Alternatives to Plastic Bags
6 Reusable Water Bottles That Aren’t Plastic
Tips To Reduce Plastic Pollution Everyday
Buy Locally Produced Goods
Despite spending a lot of their time online and being bombarded by brands that are made overseas, Gen Z is taking a more personal stance when it comes to shopping. There’s a reemergence of shoppers choosing local over big corporate brands when it comes to shopping both in person and online. Some surveys show that 65% of shoppers have changed their shopping habits to support local businesses, while 77% have stated that they shop online to support new or smaller companies.
Reduce The Number Of New Products
Thrift shopping used to be an economic necessity. Vintage shopping wasn’t mainstream. But, Gen Z has reintroduced second-hand shopping as a sustainable habit that has driven resale to become a $28 billion industry. In fact, Gen Z aren’t only partaking in the buying of second-hand clothing. They’re also selling it themselves creating a circular fashion consumption model.
Read more about shopping second-hand:
Guide: Where To Recycle Your Clothes From The Comfort Of Home
Is Thrifting An Eco-Friendly Alternative To Fast Fashion?
Tried & Loved: The Best Online Thrift Stores
Choose Brands For Their Ethical Values
Cancel culture doesn’t only extend to celebrities and public figures. It relates to brand too. Surveys show that 36% of Gen Z shoppers enjoy supporting brands that match their political and social beliefs and 45% will discontinue buying from a brand that don’t match their morals and values.
Contact A Brand About Sustainable Values
Companies like Uniliver, who own hundreds of brands including Dove, Tresseme, Sauve and Ben & Jerrys, have cut their plastic use in an effort to stay relevant to Gen Z. Adidas has introduced a recyclable shoe. These decisions are among hundreds of others that brands have been made to attract a consumer base that voices their concern about brand’s sustainable initiatives. Gen Z raise their concern about the environment by holding climate protests and calling out brands on social media.
Read more about contacting brands:
Use These Templates To Ask Brands To Practice Sustainable Consumption
Meet The Woman Tackling Big Waste With A Plastic-Free Amazon Petition
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