Our Top Stories
The impact of bans on consumer behaviour: Circular Online reports on the European government’s upcoming bans on single-use plastics, petrol and diesel vehicles, and gas boilers, which aim to promote more sustainable consumption and demonstrate leadership in environmental policy. While these bans target specific products, they often fall short of changing wider consumer behaviour. For instance, banning single-use plastics usually prompts people to turn to other disposable materials without reducing single-use habits. Lasting change, therefore, requires a balance between strict regulations and behavioural nudges to guide consumers toward more sustainable choices. Plastic bag charges are a prime example of nudging behaviour through economic incentives rather than bans. In England, the use of plastic bags has fallen by more than 98% after the introduction of the 5p and 10p fees. [Circular Online]
High-risk greenwashing on the rise: Greenwashing cases dropped by 12% overall in 2023-2024, but high-risk incidents increased by more than 30%, according to RepRisk. Incident severity is assessed based on the actual consequences of the risk, the scale of its impact, and whether it was deliberate and part of a broader pattern. Companies with significant environmental footprints were the most frequent offenders, attempting to mislead the public about their practices. This trend highlights the growing influence of eco-conscious consumers, whose preferences are becoming a powerful market force. With high-emitting organisations willing to take advantage of this segment, climate transparency has never been more important in holding polluters accountable. [RepRisk]
Business Spotlight - Ocado
Online retail giant Ocado has announced an expansion of its pre-filled product lines, following strong customer demand since their initial launch in August. Sales of refillable rice and pasta products have outperformed their single-use packaged counterparts by 29%, with triple the anticipated units sold. This surge reflects the growing base of eco-conscious consumers, with 72% of Ocado’s shoppers expressing concern over waste from single-use packaging in groceries. [Edie]
The Big Picture
About Reewild
At Reewild, we’re all about Building Greener Behaviours, and since our inception we’ve been developing innovative tools and solutions that help to further this goal.
Whether it’s helping people to monitor and reduce their carbon footprint, running campaigns that reward participants for making greener choices, or empowering consumers to make their grocery shop cheaper, easier, and greener - our purpose remains laser focussed. To inspire and cater to the 76% of people who recognise the need to take action on the climate but don’t follow through due to competing priorities.
To support this community, our goal is to reframe climate action in a way that eliminates trade-offs and builds in genuine personal benefits – such as time and money savings.
Our ambition is to inspire a green revolution in consumer habits, influencing business practices in the process, and building a more sustainable future for all.
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