2025
9
UK Sustainability in Household Care Report 2025
2026-01-11T10:42:09+00:00
REP52A63469_2A56_4286_B52D_833679A034C0
2195
191068
[{"name":"Household","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/industries\/household-home"},{"name":"Sustainability","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/industries\/sustainability"},{"name":"Market Intelligence Reports","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/report-type\/market-intelligence-reports"},{"name":"UK","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/markets\/uk-market-research"}]
Report
en_GB
Financial pressures continue to shape household care purchasing, with many consumers still feeling the effects of the cost‑of‑living crisis. Many are concerned about their financial situation in the year ahead,…
UK
Household
Sustainability
simple

UK Sustainability in Household Care Report 2025

"Understanding what drives purchase behaviours is crucial to appeal to different consumers, from Eco Warriors to Sustainable Sceptics."

Luke Santos, Household Care Analyst

Luke Santos, Household Care Analyst

Financial pressures continue to shape household care purchasing, with many consumers still feeling the effects of the cost‑of‑living crisis. Many are concerned about their financial situation in the year ahead, and 68% say high prices would discourage them from choosing eco‑friendly household care products. Competitive pricing or clear justification of value is therefore essential for brands aiming to drive sustainable product uptake.

Format and formulation innovation will be key to appealing to convenience‑driven consumers. Eco‑conscious formats, such as sheets and tablets, can streamline routines while reducing water use in production, delivering both ease and environmental benefits. Emerging technologies, including probiotic‑based cleaning solutions, also show potential by enabling more resource‑efficient manufacturing.

To encourage the adoption of these newer formats, brands need to lower the perceived risk of trying unfamiliar products. Samples or low‑commitment trial packs in mainstream retail channels give consumers a simple way to experiment without large spend. Evidence from adjacent categories shows that accessible, low‑cost trial formats can effectively introduce innovation. Together, these innovations can help brands meet consumer expectations, while supporting meaningful environmental progress.

This report looks at the following areas:

  • The impact of legislation on launch activity and product innovation
  • Types of eco-friendly household care products purchased
  • Eco-friendly household care purchase behaviours
  • Barriers to purchasing eco-friendly household care products
  • Mintel’s 2025 Household Care Personas – The Eco Warrior, The Savvy Saver, The Sustainable Sceptic and the Green Aspirer (including how each persona engages with the category, shops for household care products, and how brands/retailers can target them effectively)

Market Definitions

This Report explores sustainability in the UK household care industry. It examines how environmental considerations influence the usage and purchase of household care products, which includes:

  • Laundry detergents, fabric care and fabric conditioners
  • Toilet and hard surface cleaners
  • Air care
  • Dishwashing products
  • Household paper products
  • Cleaning equipment

Throughout the Report the terms ‘green’, ‘environmentally friendly’ and ‘eco-friendly’ are used interchangeably to denote products that are designed to be less harmful to the environment. The Report also refers to ‘regular products’ or ‘non-eco-friendly’, which are defined as those that do not claim to be eco-friendly.

Collapse All
  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Opportunities
    • Improve communication surrounding eco claims to bring consumers clarity
    • Use convenience as a catalyst for eco adoption
    • Dedicated eco ranges hold potential for private label
  2. THE MARKET

    • Financial wellbeing impacts spending habits
    • Graph 1: the financial wellbeing index, 2017-25
    • Sustainability claims frameworks aim to provide clarity
    • Greenwashing concerns drive demand for transparency
    • Most consumers perceive their lifestyles to be environmentally friendly
    • Graph 2: consumer perception of own environmentally friendly lifestyle, 2025
    • Responsible household care habits are well established
  3. THE CONSUMER

    • Mintel’s 2025 Household Care Personas
    • Graph 3: Mintel’s Sustainable Household Care Personas, 2025
    • Eco Warriors
    • The demographic profile of Eco Warriors
    • Eco Warriors: committed to sustainability
    • Improve eco offerings in automatic dish and air care
    • Graph 4: purchase of eco-friendly household care products, by sustainability persona, 2025
    • Subscription models appeal to Eco Warriors
    • Improve the penetration of eco certifications with more on-pack information
    • Graph 5: purchase of eco-friendly care products with an eco-friendly label/certification, by sustainability persona, 2025
    • Savvy Savers
    • The demographic profile of Savvy Savers
    • Savvy Savers: marry affordability with eco-friendly
    • Streamlined shopping behaviours provide eco benefits
    • Graph 6: purchase of eco-friendly household care products, by sustainability persona, 2025
    • Improve consumer understanding of cost savings provided by eco cycles
    • Product performance is pivotal for price sensitive consumers
    • Reduce the risks associated with eco-friendly product experimentation
    • Sustainable Sceptics
    • The demographic profile of Sustainable Sceptics
    • Sustainable Sceptics: appeal on other fronts
    • Competitive pricing is essential to overcome scepticism
    • Provide evidence to prevent greenwashing frustration
    • Convenience matters
    • Ensure the switch to eco‑friendly products feels effortless
    • Laundry care brands have won over Sustainable Sceptics
    • Graph 7: purchase of eco-friendly household care products, by sustainability persona, 2025
    • Green Aspirers
    • The demographic profile of Green Aspirers
    • Green Aspirers: support their sustainable desires
    • Paper products are an accessible sustainable choice for Green Aspirers
    • Graph 8: purchase of eco-friendly household care products, by sustainability persona, 2025
    • Leverage subscription models to attract Green Aspirers
    • Eliminate confusion with guidance
    • Make eco offerings more visible and widely available
  4. PRODUCT, INNOVATION AND MARKETING

    • Decline in eco-friendly claims highlights Green Claims Code impact
    • Graph 9: share of household care launches carrying ethical and environmental claims, 2020-25
    • Opportunities for responsible air care innovation
    • Graph 10: share of household care launches carrying ethical and environmental claims, by sub-category, 2024-25
    • Rekindle Earth helps consumers repurpose what would be considered waste
    • Remove the convenience barrier among eco-friendly options
    • Tallow + Ash launches first refillable on-the-go stain remover
    • Sustainability on a budget
    • Offer green alternatives at a lower price point
    • Invest in probiotic innovation
  5. APPENDIX

    • Market definition
    • Mintel’s 2025 UK Sustainable Household Care Personas
    • The consumer
    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology
    • Abbreviations
    • Abbreviations and terms

Market Intelligence Made Easier With Mintel

The first Mintel Market Intelligence report was published over 50 years ago. Since then, we have provided our unique insights and understanding of consumers, innovation and global markets to thousands of customers worldwide. Here’s why our customers rely on Mintel:

  • Gain a comprehensive, 360-degree view of the market: Mintel reports blend consumer research, market forecasts, product innovation tracking, and competitive analysis, allowing businesses to see every angle of their industry and identify new opportunities quickly.
  • Make decisions with confidence, grounded in robust data: Each report draws on up-to-date, reliable information from trusted sources and industry experts, ensuring your strategies are based on solid evidence rather than speculation.
  • Benefit from expert analysis and practical recommendations: Mintel’s reports are written by experienced analysts who interpret complex data and provide clear, actionable insights you can trust to guide your next moves.
  • Stay ahead with actionable intelligence on market trends and consumer behaviour: By combining fresh research with long-term market monitoring, our reports help businesses anticipate changes and adapt strategically. So you’re prepared to make informed decisions and drive growth.

What goes into a Mintel Market Intelligence Report?

Curious about how a Market Intelligence report comes together? We like to think of it as building a detailed puzzle. We start with individual pieces: data from consumers, market statistics, industry trends, and online conversations. Then our expert analysts add world-class human insight and industry knowledge. The pieces are assembled to reveal a clear, comprehensive picture of a market.

The Four Pillars of Our Research

We use a combination of four main research methods when creating our reports, each adding a valuable perspective:

  • Consumer Research: Direct surveys with real people, giving us clear, current insights into what people think and do.
  • Desk Research: In-depth review of trusted data sources. We use this rich database, plus powerful internal tools that track new products and market sizes, to detect trends and guide forecasts.
  • Trade Research: Insights from conversations with industry experts. Their real-world experience helps us understand what’s happening behind the scenes.
  • Brand and Social Media Research: Analysis of online opinions and trends. This lets us spot trends, measure brand sentiment, and capture feedback in real time, adding further depth to our research.

Bringing It All Together

Each of these four pillars provides a different piece of the puzzle. Consumer research tells us what customers think, desk research provides the factual framework, trade research offers an insider’s view, and social media analysis reveals public sentiment.

Our expert analysts are skilled in weaving these diverse data streams together. They apply a range of quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques to uncover the deeper story, connecting the dots to deliver clear, actionable insights. This comprehensive, multi-layered process is how we transform raw data into a market intelligence report you can trust to inform your most important business decisions.

£ 2,195 (Excl.Tax)
  • Download today with instant access
  • Multiple formats provided
  • Interactive databook included
  • Save 20% when you purchase two or more reports
Add to cart

Next Starts Here

Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.

Learn more

Trusted by global industry leaders

Abacus logo

There is no question that Mintel is the go-to resource for the best quality market research, but I did not think it was an affordable option for Abacus Marketing to consider. As a small marketing agency, we only work with a few new clients each year.

However, we have a very high-end consultative approach to our work, so we really do need a partner like Mintel to provide the big agency experience we are always aiming to deliver. Our clients come from an incredibly diverse range of industry sectors, so we obviously need access to market research reports from a very wide spectrum of marketplaces – and that is precisely what we got.

Stephen Taylor-Brown, Managing Director, Abacus
Amazon logo

Working in a customer-obsessed organization means that data and insights have to be at our fingertips. Mintel’s reports help us support anecdotes with real quantifiable insights. The summary sections (which I really like) helps save time by giving a birds eye view of the content before spending time combing through the pages.

Our business review discussions are strengthened by the relevancy of the reports to help us better understand our customers. In addition, the customer service received from the team (especially in crunch periods) makes the process of understanding customer behavior even better.

Ngozi Ngonadi-Nkwoji, Senior Marketing Manager, Amazon
Tenth Wave logo

Mintel helps us when we want to know something quickly – it provides fast answers to our questions. If we need to get a view of what’s going on in a particular market it’s very useful.

When carrying out background research, I find Mintel an excellent starting point.

The fact that it covers so many markets is a big plus for me– instead of having to buy specialist products in each area we are interested in, especially when we only require a brief view on a particular market, we can go to Mintel for help as a one-stop shop. I find Mintel a useful and valuable resource.

Ben Zeidler, Director - Research and Analytics, Tenth Wave
Jackman logo

At Jackman, we believe that powerful strategies are based on human insight. Mintel’s leading-edge reports and insights into consumer attitudes and behaviors are an important input as we develop and execute strategy.

Alana Gavin, VP Research and Insights, Jackman
Mediacom logo

Mintel is really good for getting a handle on a particular category quickly. If we are working on a new business pitch in an area we don’t have much experience in, it’s a brilliant way to get up to speed with what’s going on, what’s changing and what the key trends are in any category.

It’s very rare now that anyone will plough through a 200-page report – that’s why the summaries are really useful. We know they are backed up by a lot of detail, so if you need to go into something in more depth you know the information will be all there for you.

Pauline Robson, Managing Partner, Mediacom

Next Starts Here

Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.

Learn more