It used to be that good food was the way to a person’s heart but in 2022 – for Gen Z at least – it’s having good eco habits.
According to a new survey commissioned by the John Lewis Partnership, 85 per cent of 18-24 year olds questioned said that differing opinions about sustainability were the cause of frequent fall outs.
Even more severe, a staggering 47 per cent admitted that they’ve actually broken up with someone purely because of poor eco habits – with modern daters increasingly showing they hope Cupid’s arrow will guide them to a partner with a planet sized obsession for sustainability.
A spokesperson for the John Lewis Partnership said: “Humans have always made connections with like-minded individuals and as this research shows, young people are increasingly looking for partners that share their values and passion for sustainability.”
“As we saw last November at COP26, more and more young people are rising up and becoming more vocal about climate change and the thousands of young demonstrators we saw on the streets of Glasgow for the event is illustrative of just how many young people are driven by sustainability. It is therefore no surprise that many are now looking to find love with people that share their enthusiasm and passion for sustainability and this can only be viewed as a very positive thing.”
The survey showed that it’s not just young people bickering about eco habits though. Almost a third (30 per cent) of all respondents said they regularly argue with their spouse about sustainability, with a fifth (22 per cent) regularly pulling up their other half on their lack of eco-friendly habits.
However, showing that there is room for improvement, half (50 per cent) of respondents agreed they needed to do more as a couple to do their part to look after the planet.
10 things eco obsessed Brits hate about their partners:
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Leaving lights on in empty rooms
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Turning up the thermostat instead of layering up
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Using the tumble dryer instead of putting clothes on a washing line
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Throwing recyclable materials in the waste bin
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Putting non recyclable items in the recycling bin
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Putting dirty containers in the recycling bin
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Throwing away/ wasting food
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Driving short distances that could easily be walked
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Keeping rarely used appliances switched on at the mains
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Spending too long in the shower
