It costs nearly £2,000 a year more to be eco-friendly and buy ‘green’ groceries

BUYING “green” groceries such as organic veg or plastic-free goods costs an average of £2,000 more a year, a study has found. But 43 per cent of us would pay more to save the planet. A calculator showing the cost of 20 everyday items including apples, pasta, shampoo and toilet roll was developed by money.co.uk. […]

BUYING “green” groceries such as organic veg or plastic-free goods costs an average of £2,000 more a year, a study has found.

But 43 per cent of us would pay more to save the planet.

Alamy

Buying groceries such as organic veg or plastic-free goods can cost consumers £2,000 more a year[/caption]

A calculator showing the cost of 20 everyday items including apples, pasta, shampoo and toilet roll was developed by money.co.uk.

The tool allows users to compare ‘green’ versus traditional prices of everyday groceries and other expenses like energy, booking holidays and even coffee.

To buy each in the “greenest”  way would cost a family of four £5,915 over a year.

But buying non-organic items, or cheaper plastic-wrapped goods rather than fresh alternatives, would cost just £3,151.

ECO-FRIENDLY OVER COST

A bag of standard carrots costs an average of 75p from Tesco but their organic equivalent is nearly 20 per cent more at 95p.

A holiday at a standard hotel in Cornwall,  travelling from London by train, costs £6,716 for a family of four — £1,416 more than a two-week break in Majorca by plane.

But the “staycation” produces 20kg of CO2 per person and the Majorca trip 178kg.

The survey also found more than a quarter of Brits prioritise food products being organic, over how much they cost.

Thirty per cent make an effort to buy local produce, and four in 10 try and avoid plastic packaging where they can.

And more than six in 10 now use a reusable cup whenever they buy a coffee from a café.

Salman Haqqi of money. co.uk said: “You might be spending a little more to be more sustainable, but the overall impact you can have is surely worth it. Consumers can  have a positive impact on our planet.”

Reuters

Travelling from London by train to a staycation in Cornwall, costs £6,716 for a family of four — £1,416 more than a two-week break in Majorca by plane[/caption]

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