Climate Protection Survey: Austrians Strongly Advocate for Waste Reduction

This was revealed in a survey presented on Friday on behalf of the Association of Austrian Waste Management Companies (VOEB). According to the survey, nearly 64 percent make sure to only buy as much food as they need in their household. Almost half of the respondents actively try to avoid waste as much as possible. 1,000 people aged 14 to 75 were surveyed.

More than a third of the survey participants pay attention to regional and seasonal products, 15 percent predominantly buy organic products. Almost a quarter look for environmentally friendly packaging and 60 percent avoid plastic bags "as often as possible". Food that has reached its expiration date is checked by two-thirds instead of being automatically discarded. Nevertheless, according to the Ministry of Climate Protection, around 1.2 million tons of food waste still accumulate annually along the entire value chain - more than 130 kilograms per capita.

Avoidance of Flights and Cars Less Common

In the energy sector, six out of ten respondents claim to save electricity, and more than half also try to regulate their heating to reduce energy consumption. In terms of transport, respondents make the fewest concessions: only about a quarter state that they avoid flights (27 percent) and try to avoid using the car as much as possible in everyday life (26 percent).

Women are "more mindful than men in terms of environmental protection". Thus, seven out of ten of the women surveyed continue to use food even after the expiration date has passed (70 vs. 62 percent of men). They also prefer to buy second-hand textiles (23 vs. twelve percent of men).

Commitment to Environmental Protection Increases with Age

The older the respondents, the greater their commitment to environmental protection. Twice as many older people over 70 as younger people under 20 pay attention to this (78 vs. 37 percent) and also avoid plastic bags when shopping (74 vs. 33 percent). 31 percent of those under 20 claim to save water, while it's more than half for those over 50. Older people more often try to repair broken or old electrical appliances (19 percent under 20 vs. 42 percent over 70). The younger generation is most likely to give up meat for environmental protection (13 vs. six percent of the "baby boomers").

In Vienna, 28 percent do without a car of their own, the Austrian average is 16 percent. However, when it comes to avoiding waste, the population in the capital lags behind: only just under four out of ten people try to generate as little waste as possible (39 vs. 48 percent overall).

(APA/Red)

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