Nearly eight in ten adults have changed their lifestyle to help the environment

New Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows that the public is increasingly feeling the effects of climate change and that most adults say they are already changing their behaviour in response. However, cost, a lack of clarity and a sense that others should act first remain significant barriers. 

The ONS Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, which covers adults aged 16 plus in Great Britain was collected between 1 July and 27 September 2026, a period that coincided with what the Met Office has provisionally declared the hottest summer on record.

The results included:

• Over three-quarters of adults (77%) said they had made changes to their lifestyle to help tackle environmental issues. Among those, waste reduction was the most commonly reported action (80%).

• Some 85% of adults said they had been affected by climate change in at least one way in the past 12 months, up from 74% in 2025 and 66% in 2024.

• Among those who had made changes, the most commonly reported barriers to doing more were cost (43%), a belief that large polluters should change before individuals (37%) and not knowing what more they could do (26%).

• Among the 23% who had made no changes, almost a third (31%) said large polluters should change before individuals, and 26% did not think their actions would have any effect.

Diane Crowe, group sustainability director at Reconomy, the international circular economy specialist, commented: ‘This data shows that the public is willing to act, and that waste reduction is where many people are starting. But, it also shows that good intentions aren’t enough on their own. People tell us that cost is the biggest barrier, and a quarter don’t know what more they could do. That is a challenge for the whole sector, not just for consumers.

‘With Simpler Recycling reforms coming in, consumers will be central to whether the new system delivers. Clear communication, consistent collections and affordable, accessible options for repair and reuse will determine whether people can turn their intentions into everyday habits.

‘The fact that nearly a third of those who haven’t changed their behaviour believe large polluters should act first is also a reminder that responsibility is shared. A circular economy only works if producers, retailers, local authorities, waste and recycling companies and consumers are all pulling in the same direction. Industry needs to show that it is doing its part, and make it as easy as possible for people to do theirs.’