Here’s how long it takes most people to quit sustainable habits like meat-free days

By Richard Jenkins, 72Point via SWNS

It takes adults an average of 13 days to abandon new sustainable habits - with meat-free days being the first to go, research has discovered.

A study of 2,000 adults found carnivorous Brits usually only manage to ditch their favorite foods for a plant-based diet for 12 days in total.

Using eco-friendly products is a behavior people can keep longest, but even that starts to wane after 15 days.

While measures such as using the food waste bin, using eco settings in the home, and only boiling the water required, last for just two weeks.

It emerged 55 percent of people falter as they fail to see positive changes following their actions, while more than half feel disheartened because it seems no matter what they do, the climate emergency isn’t improving.

The study was commissioned by Utilita, as part of its Planet Pledge campaign, which invites people to take part in a 66 day challenge to do something good for the environment - the time it takes to form a new habit effectively.

Sustainability Lead, Archie Lasseter, said: “While it can feel like we're fighting a losing battle, it's so important to remember that even the smallest changes can have a massive impact, and will.

“There are 67 million people living in the UK, and if each person made a small change, the impact would be huge.

“It is sad to see how quickly us Brits give up on our attempts at being green, lasting a little under two weeks for most of us - but it’s reassuring to see that some people are winning, and are able to carry them on indefinitely.”

The study found 24 percent of adults have been inspired to live a greener lifestyle - and take on new habits - because someone they knew was also doing so.

However, those who decide to get into composting will pack in the new habit after just 14-and-a-half days on average - but will last a little longer before going back to buying non-sustainable fashion.

Other green goals that fall by the wayside early include walking short distances rather than driving, and cutting down on using the tumble dryer.

Over one in five adults (22 percent) don't believe they will reduce the amount they fly, despite the climate crisis.

More than a fifth (22 percent) of respondents have been told a green habit they were trying to maintain was "pointless."

And another 21 percent confess they don’t really live a sustainable lifestyle at all, according to the OnePoll figures.

Three in ten say it’s simply too expensive to live as sustainably as they would like, and when it comes to winter, 27 percent can’t resist taking the car instead of walking.

Another quarter found that ‘green alternatives’ to things they were used to were simply not good enough to switch to full-time.

And of the 24 percent who do believe they’ve seen a tangible benefit to their new green lifestyle, some of the top changes have been noticeably putting less into landfill (50 percent), and an improvement in health (45 percent).

Four in ten have seen their energy bills go down, and 31 percent feel their personal energy levels have gone up since they changed their diet.

Just under half (49 percent) believe they need ‘help’ when it comes to being motivated to live more sustainably.

In fact, on a scale of one to five, the average adult only rates their motivation for green-ness at a fairly low 3.2.

But 47 percent feel they don’t live as green as they could because they’re just not sure how to turn their passion for sustainability into tangible changes.

Dr. Pippa Lally, a behavior scientist from University College London, said: “Utilita’s study confirms that some people are giving up on their new behaviors before they have had a chance to form into strong habits.

“The time it takes to form a habit varies for different people and different behaviors, but in our research the average time it took to form a habit was 66 days, and this can be a useful target for people to aim for.”

The Planet Pledge campaign is designed to help people in every household in the UK to form as many as nine new eco-friendly behaviors.

Each new behavior comes with an annual carbon saving and cost saving, as well as prizes - which, together, should incentivize people to make some pro-planet habits.

To find out more and join before 17th Jan, visit here.

HOW LONG IT TAKES BRITS TO GIVE UP ON SUSTAINABLE HABITS:

Have ‘meat-free days’: 12.8 days

Turning electricals off at the mains rather than leaving them on standby: 12.9 days

Setting the heating at a lower constant temperature: 13.3 days

To walk all short distances instead of driving: 13.3 days

To go a whole year without putting anything in a black bin bag: 13.3 days

Not using the tumble dryer: 13.4 days

Unplug items to avoid using vampire energy: 13.4 days

Putting on more layers instead of turning the heating on: 13.4 days

Not using the tumble dryer: 13.4 days

To have shorter showers: 13.9 days

Checking the labels of everything in the supermarket: 13.6 days

Washing clothing on lower temperatures: 13.9 days

Stop buying new clothes and get second-hand instead: 14 days

To use eco settings where possible at home: 14 days

To not buy any food with too big a ‘food mile’ footprint: 14 days

Put food in the food waste bin, not the regular bin: 14.2 days

To buy only from sustainable brands: 14.2 days

Avoiding boiling more water than needed: 14.3 days

Remember bags for life at the supermarket: 14.3 days

Drive less in general: 14.3 days

Turn off lights in unoccupied rooms: 14.3 days

Eat meat substitutes: 14.4 days

Remembering to turn off lights in the house: 14.4 days

To only buy organic fruit and veg: 14.4 days

Not to use cotton buds: 14.4 days

Compost more food: 14.5 days

Cycle more: 14.5 days

Grow your own fruit and veg: 14.5 days

To not use any single use plastic: 14.5 days

Not to book a holiday that required a flight: 14.6 days

Buying sustainable fashion: 14.8 days

Always wash and recycle everything possible: 14.9 days

Switch energy supplier: 15 days

Use eco cleaning products: 15.1 days