Increased consumer awareness for sustainable solutions and their benefits, better regulation and financial incentives are likely to have the most impact on the UK’s ability to meet its carbon reduction targets according to a recent survey conducted by leading international construction materials company Saint-Gobain.
Conducted with Ecobuild 2013 visitors, the survey found that 25 per cent of respondents believe increased consumer awareness would have the most impact, with 21 per cent opting for better regulation and 20 per cent for financial incentives. While 14 per cent thought new product and technological innovation would have the most impact and 11 per cent industry training.
Respondents also believed that changes in consumer behaviour would have the least impact with just 9 per cent mentioning this as the most important driver for change.
The survey also found:
• Only 33 per cent of respondents think there is any chance that the UK can now meet its 2050 carbon reduction targets
• 76 per cent of people believe that in the current economic climate price is more important than environmental performance
• More than three quarters of visitors (78%) felt that whole life carbon calculations should become compulsory
• 69% believe the current Government is not the greenest ever.
To listen to the opinions of individual survey respondents, visit www.saint-gobain.co.uk, click on the link to Saint-Gobain UK and Ireland’s You Tube channel and view the Ecobuild videos.
