Publicado 26/04/2023 08:36

New research from Electrolux Group reveals Europe turns to 30° wash, driving down CO2 emissions

(Información remitida por la empresa firmante)

STOCKHOLM, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Three years of data in The Truth About Laundry report, shows 35 million households have turned down wash temperatures for potential saving of nearly 1 million tons of CO2 equivalent emissions.

Today the results of the longest and largest study of its kind into laundry behaviors across Europe have been published by leading global appliance company Electrolux Group. The study reveals long established behaviors are changing at pace, in favor of the environment, as consumers seek to save energy costs:

  • 35m European households have turned to washing at 30°C since 2020; over 14m of which have switched in the past 12 months.
  • The turn to 30°C is likely to have saved over 952,000 tons of CO2 equivalent*.
  • 44% of households are now mainly washing their clothes at 30°C or below, compared to 35% three years ago.
  • Majority of Europe will be 30°C laundry zone by 2025 if trend continues.
  • 86% of all households have tried to reduce energy usage in the past twelve months and over half (56%) have specifically changed the way they launder.

Current energy crisis is accelerating change While the study shows habits have been changing for the good of the planet over the past few years, it is the current energy crisis that is helping to accelerate change. These changes include 43% now washing full loads more, 31% wearing clothes more often between washes, 29% laundering more at night and 30% now using Eco-settings. Many of them for the first time.

Concerns over energy it seems is never too far from the consumer's mind with 83% of adults thinking more about the energy they are consuming when using appliances than ever before. 58% also say that 'energy efficiency' will be a key consideration when they buy their next appliance.

"The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that urgent climate action can secure a livable future for all but that the window for positive action is closing fast," comments Sarah Schaefer, VP Sustainability Europe, Electrolux Group. "Our latest research, which has reviewed data from the past three years, shows consumers are changing their behaviors positively, which should give everyone hope that together we can help tackle climate change. But a lot more is needed from us all if we are to succeed."

Five steps to change

Electrolux Group is recommending five small steps everyone can take which, together, can make a big difference to the planet:

"The positive changes we are witnessing in laundry are many," continues Schaefer. "Millions of people across Europe making small changes which are adding up to big differences. That's the journey we are on and the more people who join, the better chance we have for creating the liveable future we all want."

*Calculation is based upon: total number of households which have turned to 30°C from 40°C in Europe since 2020 is 35,015, 26 Abr. (i.e. 10% of 350,153,081, the total number of households) - multiplied by an annual CO2-eq saving of up to 27.2kg per household per year, divided by 1000, to arrive at 952,416 tons of CO2-eq likely to have been saved. A household saving up to 27.2kg of CO2-eq per year from turning down the wash temperature from 40°C to 30°C, is based upon decreasing washing temperature from Cotton 40°C cycle to Cotton 30°C cycle, using powder detergent, 8Kg FL WM delivers ~ 25% less impact on Global Warming Potential (GWP) of use phase. In real terms it reduces CO2 equivalent from 1436Kg CO2-eq to 1164 Kg CO2-eq over ten years or up to 27.2Kg of CO2-eq every year per household, based on one household having an average of one washing machine. Click here for more information: Electrolux The Truth About Laundry 2021.

The Truth About Laundry report

The Truth About Laundry, the Resource Efficiency Edition 2023 is the third consecutive study by leading global appliance company, Electrolux Group. Each year it studies the responses from up to 14,000 adults across Europe as well as analyzing 1.4m actual wash cycle data collected from its connected appliances. In 2020, it shared insights into laundry behavior during the pandemic and published new scientific research which pinpointed the CO2 equivalent saving from turning wash temperature down from 30°C to 40°C. In 2021 it continued to monitor key behaviors while also sharing insights into consumer understanding of microplastics in clothes and what can be done to reduce their release into the planet's waterways.

About the most recent research

The research findings are based on quantitative data collected from 14,000 adults across fourteen European markets. OnePoll, a survey-led market research company, managed the research in collaboration with Electrolux Group and its partners. The survey was fielded between 20th December 2022 to 16th January 2023 with data collected from the general population in the following countries: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and, the UK.

The data were weighted for each country to ensure accurate representation by age, marital status, income/social class, ethnicity, and region. For a statistic of 50% the margin of error for sampling on a sample of 1,000 respondents is ±3.1%. For smaller or larger statistics, the margin of error will decrease and falls to 1.9% for a statistic of 10% or 90%. This is based on all countries having 1,000 respondents per market. This margin of error is small making the data highly reliable.

For further information, please contact Electrolux Press Hotline, +46 8 657 65 07.

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