Brits will shop sustainably for food – but turn a blind eye when it comes to homeware

White goods, bedding and sofas are also among the homeware items bought without any consideration for the environment.

In comparison, less than one in five would purchase make up without thinking about how sustainable it was, while only 20 percent would do the same with eggs and pet food.

It also emerged price (64 percent) is still the most important consideration to shoppers when deciding what to buy, followed by the look of the product (36 percent).

But 21 percent take into account environmental concerns, while 14 percent look for items which are locally sourced.

And it emerged the kitchen is the room of the house respondents are most likely to fill with eco-friendly products (23 percent).

A spokesman for The John Lewis Partnership, which commissioned the research, said: “As a society, we are becoming increasingly conscious about the origin and sustainable credentials of the products we buy. But as this research shows, this doesn’t always apply to all areas of the household.

“The public has an important role in shaping standards across the UK as the more they demand high standards and sustainable action, the more pressure they put on businesses to deliver them.

“As a nation, we’ve made great strides over the last few years in ensuring the UK sources more sustainable food and packaging and we need to ensure that interest isn’t restricted to the kitchen only.”

While 43 percent of respondents consider themselves to be a sustainable shopper, only 16 per cent make a conscious effort to check a brand’s eco credentials before buying its products.

But despite some trying to shop sustainably, 37 percent feel there is not enough action being taken by brands.

And more than a third (32 percent) even went as far as to say brands are not doing enough to raise awareness of their sustainable products – at a time when 51 percent would prefer to buy more natural items for their home.

The research coincides with the launch of John Lewis’s new sustainable mattress range, which for the first time will be made with wool from sheep farms supplying its sister brand Waitrose.

With countless British farmers forced to burn their wool due to its low value, the move aims to shine a light on the quality of British wool as well as raise its value for the benefit of sheep farmers all over the UK.

The John Lewis Partnership spokesman added: “We hope initiatives like this will encourage more people to think where their products have come from and how sustainable they are, from the coffee they drink in the morning to the mattresses they sleep on at night.”

The study, commissioned via OnePoll, also found 52 percent of adults are willing to pay as much as 13 percent more for products which use sustainable wool, to help the livelihood of British farmers who produce them.

It also emerged 66 percent are completely unaware many lamb producers burn wool due to the low prices they receive.

TOP 30 ITEMS BOUGHT WITHOUT CONSIDERING ITS SUSTAINABLE CREDENTIALS:

1. TVs
2. Mattresses
3. Smartphones
4. Laptops
5. White goods/kitchen appliances
6. Bedding
7. Sofas/chairs
8. Shampoo
9. Towels
10. Washing-up liquid
11. Washing detergent
12. Clothes/shoes
13. Wooden furniture
14. Lightbulbs
15. Gardening supplies
16. Toilet paper
17. Cars
18. Rice
19. Soap
20. Teabags
21. Toys
22. Milk/dairy products
23. Moisturiser
24. Coffee
25. Fruit/veg
26. Pet food
27. Plastic bottles
28. Eggs
29. Facewash
30. Beauty products