Van Drivers embrace ‘Attenborough Effect’ by reusing, recycling and ditching single-use plastics
Van Drivers embrace ‘Attenborough Effect’ by reusing, recycling and ditching single-use plastics
● Three in 10 (30%) van drivers avoid single-use plastics in a bid to help the environment
● Over a third (38%) use reusable coffee cups or lunch boxes to avoid unnecessary waste
● David Attenborough voted van drivers’ second most desirable lunch partner, after Ant and Dec
January 2020: British van drivers are adopting eco-friendly habits according to new research by Vauxhall Motors. This new insight into the ‘British van driver’ suggests they are becoming increasingly conscious of sustainability with three in ten (30%) avoiding single-use plastics and one in five (19%) trying vegan or vegetarian alternatives to meat in the last year.
The research, conducted among over 1,100 van drivers in the UK, reveals how van drivers are changing multiple aspects of their lifestyle. From how they think about food waste, to how much meat they’re consuming, van drivers are rethinking their lifestyle choices with a fifth (21%) consciously trying to avoid buying food and drink packaged in single-use plastic.
On a daily basis, over a third (38%) of respondents use reusable coffee cups or lunch boxes and almost half (46%) take their lunch to work every day instead of buying packaged food on the road. And it’s not just at work where these habits are evident. Almost half (47%) of van drivers watch documentaries like ‘Blue Planet’ or ‘The Truth About Meat’ with a third (32%) saying that these were a topic of conversation at lunchtime or in their van.
David Attenborough has even been voted the celebrity van drivers would most like to spend their lunch break with, coming in second only to Ant and Dec. This suggests that the legendary British broadcaster has an impact on their attitudes towards sustainability with four in ten (42%) saying they now reuse and recycle as much as possible.
Patrick Fourniol, Marketing Director at Vauxhall Motors, comments: “Van Drivers and the businesses they represent are truly the lifeblood of our economy. We’re delighted to be able to showcase this research and hopefully help to recalibrate perceptions of them, which can often be outdated and inaccurate.
“With best in class fuel economy, the new Vivaro has also cut CO2 emissions. 2020 is looking to be an exciting year, both for Vauxhall on a whole, but also for our customers. With the new fully electric Vivaro-e launching at the end of this year, it’s great to see that so many van drivers have already taken steps to improve their lifestyles, and we hope they’ll continue to do so moving forward.”
Emissions-free transport and deliveries are becoming increasingly more viable and desirable, especially in urban areas like London, and with this demand for electric light commercial vehicles on the rise, Vauxhall will be launching an electric version of the Vivaro next year.
The new Vauxhall Vivaro starts from £23,573.33 ex VAT. For more information on the new Vauxhall Vivaro visit: https://www.vauxhall.co.uk/vans/new-vivaro/model-overview.html
About the research:
The research was conducted online by On The Tools, the largest construction-based community in the UK, in November 2019 and reflects the views of 1,107 van drivers from a range of different industries.
VAUXHALL MOTORS Vauxhall Motors started making vehicles in the UK in 1903. Today, as the oldest and most familiar of Britain’s automotive manufacturers, its philosophy is to build vehicles that are relevant to all. Vauxhall’s two manufacturing plants in Ellesmere Port and Luton produced 120,000 cars and vans in 2019, and its sales accounted for 7.5 per cent of the UK market. Vauxhall has been a Groupe PSA brand since 2017. By 2024, each of its models will offer an electrified version, part of the company’s PACE! plan to become sustainably profitable, global and electric. www.vauxhall.co.uk Reach us on social media via Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. If you would like to keep up to date with Vauxhall’s Press Office activity and be the first to see what exciting new projects we are launching, please follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/VauxhallPR
ABOUT ON THE TOOLS On the Tools is the largest online construction based community in the UK. Our mission to ‘connect construction’ is rooted in the belief that those in the construction industry deserve the same opportunities as those within the white collar world. On The Tools is the go-to place for builders and tradespeople to find entertainment, engagement and industry news. On The Tools is part of the Electric House Group.