46% of UK adults want to see a charge introduced on single-use packaging similar to the carrier bag levy introduced in 2015.
The survey of 2,000 UK adults by environmental charity City to Sea also found that 42% of respondents want plastic-wrapped fruit and veg, plastic water bottles and all single-use plastic bags to be banned.
58% of respondents said they have endeavoured to cut back on single-use packaging in the last 12 months.
Some everyday habits have become ingrained in the respondents’ behaviours, with 68% saying they use reusable shopping bags and 58% saying they use reusable water bottles.
However, 25% of respondents report a lack of available options, while 20% cite a lack of reusable and refillable options for their preferred brands.
52% also report they’re confused with the language used to describe sustainable initiatives, indicating the lack of education from industry and government is another hindrance.
Only 36% felt comfortable asking for a reusable bottle to be refilled in a café, restaurant or pub when they haven’t made a purchase, suggesting businesses need to make these services more welcoming and explicit.
72% of respondents want to see more reusable, refillable and returnable options where they shop.
Jane Martin, CEO of City to Sea, commented: “Following decisive action against wet wipes and single-use plastic cutlery and plates over the last two years, these last 10 months have felt slow on plastic action.
“Each year our research shows the public are crying out for change when it comes to our single-use plastic culture but aren’t clear on how they can really help.
“It’s time for an industry-wide and government-supported reuse revolution to close the chapter for good on single-use and move to a sustainable future.”
The research comes weeks after the Global Reuse Summit, organised by City to Sea, where delegates called on the UK Government to support reusable packaging systems through ‘robust policy frameworks’.
