Fewer Americans “thinking green”

NEW YORK, N.Y.

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Since the summer of 2009, the Harris Poll has been tracking Americans’ attitudes toward the environment as well as their engagement in various environmentally-friendly, or “green,” behaviors. The latest installment finds that many green behaviors, including those capable of saving consumers money, continue to decline. And perhaps more alarming, considerably fewer U.S. adults now express concern for, and awareness of, environmental issues.

These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,451 U.S. adults (ages 18 and over), surveyed online between March 12 and March 19, 2012 by Harris Interactive.

Since these questions were first asked in 2009 there has been a decline in some green behaviors. In 2012, U.S. adults are now less likely to do each of the following in their daily life:

Reuse things they have instead of throwing them away or buying new items (65% 2009 vs. 61% 2012);
Make an effort to use less water (60% 2009 vs. 57% 2010 and 2012);
Buy food in bulk (33% 2009 vs. 30% 2012);
Purchase all-natural products (18% 2009 vs. 16% 2012); and,
Purchase organic products (17% 2009 vs. 15% 2010 and 2012).
They are also less likely to espouse certain green attitudes โ€“ fewer Americans describe themselves as “environmentally-conscious” (27% 2012 vs. 30% 2009), or say they personally care a great deal about the current state, and future, of the environment (31% 2012 vs. 36% 2009 and 34% 2010).

Most significantly, in 2012, only about 1 in 3 U.S. adults (34%) say they are concerned about the planet we are leaving behind for future generations โ€“ an almost 10 percentage point decrease since 2009 (43%).

At the same time, however, a minority of Americans โ€“ more so than in 2009 โ€“ continue to describe themselves as:

Conservationist (20% 2012 and 2010 vs. 17% 2009);
“Green” (17% 2012 and 18% 2010 vs. 13% 2009); and,
Environmentalist (16% 2012 and 2010 vs. 13% 2009).
So What?
Over the past few years, more pressing issues such as health care reform, economic recovery, and the upcoming presidential election have eclipsed discussions about the environment, so perhaps it is not very surprising that these latest Harris Poll results continue to show a decline in “green” attitudes and behaviors. Unfortunately for consumers, some of the “green” behaviors they fail to adopt โ€“ such as buying food in bulk โ€“ could be saving them money, while others โ€“ such as recycling โ€“ could help us leave behind a cleaner, more sustainable future for our grandchildren. There may be a silver lining though, if the group of Americans who express the strongest commitment to the environment is a vocal and highly engaged minority.

TABLE 1A

FREQUENCY OF VARIOUS GREEN BEHAVIORS

“How often do you do each of the following in your daily life?”

Base: All adults

Always/
Often (NET)
Always
Often
Sometimes
Rarely/
Never (NET)
Rarely
Never

%
%
%
%
%
%
%

Keep unneeded lights off or turn lights off when leaving a room
81
46
35
13
6
2
4

Recycle
68
43
25
17
15
8
7

Reuse things that I have instead of throwing them away or buying new items
61
23
38
25
14
7
6

Make an effort to use less water
57
25
32
28
15
8
7

Unplug electrical appliances when I am not using them
43
17
26
27
30
16
14

Purchase locally grown produce
36
6
30
43
21
12
9

Buy food in bulk
30
8
23
37
32
20
12

Purchase locally manufactured products
24
4
20
48
27
18
9

Purchase used items rather than new
23
5
18
38
39
24
14

Compost food and organic waste
18
9
9
15
67
16
51

Carpool or take public transportation
17
6
11
18
65
22
44

Purchase all-natural products
16
4
13
41
43
27
15

Walk or ride a bike instead of driving or using public transportation
16
6
10
21
62
25
37

Purchase organic products
15
3
12
37
48
27
21

Note: Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding.

TABLE 1B

FREQUENCY OF VARIOUS GREEN BEHAVIORS

“How often do you do each of the following in your daily life?”

Summary of those saying “Always” or “Often”

Base: All adults

2009
Total
2010
Total
2012
Total

%
%
%

Keep unneeded lights off or turn lights off when leaving a room
83
81
81

Recycle
68
68
68

Reuse things that I have instead of throwing them away or buying new items
65
63
61

Make an effort to use less water
60
57
57

Unplug electrical appliances when I am not using them
40
39
43

Purchase locally grown produce
39
33
36

Buy food in bulk
33
32
30

Purchase locally manufactured products
26
23
24

Purchase used items rather than new
25
24
23

Compost food and organic waste
17
15
18

Carpool or take public transportation
16
16
17

Purchase all-natural products
18
16
16

Walk or ride a bike instead of driving or using public transportation
15
15
16

Purchase organic products
17
15
15

Note: Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding.

TABLE 2A

ENVIRONMENTAL LABELS

“To what extent, if any, does each of the following statements describe you?”

Base: All adults

Very well/
Completely

(NET)
Completely
Very
well
Fairly
well
Somewhat
well/Does not
describe me
(NET)
Somewhat
well
Does not
describe
me at all

%
%
%
%
%
%
%

I am concerned about the planet we are leaving behind for future generations.
34
12
22
27
39
26
13

I personally care a great deal about the current state, and future, of the environment.
31
11
19
29
40
28
12

I feel a personal responsibility for taking care of the environment.
27
9
18
27
46
30
16

I am environmentally-conscious.
27
9
18
33
40
28
12

I encourage others to be more environmentally-friendly.
24
9
15
28
48
27
21

I am a conservationist.
20
6
14
24
56
30
25

I am “green”.
17
5
11
25
59
31
27

I am an environmentalist.
16
6
10
21
63
27
36

Note: Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding.

TABLE 2B

ENVIRONMENTAL LABELS

“To what extent, if any, does each of the following statements describe you?”

Summary of those saying “Very well” or “Completely”

Base: All adults

2009
Total
2010
Total
2012
Total

%
%
%

I am concerned about the planet we are leaving behind for future generations.
43
36
34

I personally care a great deal about the current state, and future, of the environment.
36
34
31

I feel a personal responsibility for taking care of the environment.
29
29
27

I am environmentally-conscious.
30
29
27

I encourage others to be more environmentally-friendly.
26
25
24

I am a conservationist.
17
20
20

I am “green”.
13
18
17

I am an environmentalist.
13
16
16

Note: Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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