Many environmental problems are growing due in particular to rising production and consumption and hence to consumer behaviour. There is therefore a growing realization that environmental problems need in part to be solved by a change in consumer behaviour.
Consumers are however a difficult target group for environmental policy to reach.
This study sets out to answer the question as to what consumers do and do not do for the environment and the extent to which they take account of the environment. In particular it examines behaviour that can make a contribution towards reducing household energy consumption. The study also examine such matters as waste separation and the purchase of environmentally friendly food and products. It also examines the extent to which environmental considerations feature in such behaviour and the differences in environmentally relevant behaviour between various groups in terms of household type, income, age, education and urbanness of the home environment. The report concludes with recommendations for policy interventions aimed at reducing the environmental impact of households.