Has sustainability taken a backseat as concerns about COVID-19 continue to dominate? News cycles have shifted. Coverage of and concerns about the negative impacts that plastic and other non-sustainable items have on the environment seems to have declined a bit. People have turned to single-use items in droves — disinfecting wipes, paper masks, plastic grocery bags — things that don’t have more than one “touch point” to avoid possible virus transfer. Just as many municipalities banned things like plastic bags and straws, they are forced into a position where these kinds of products seem to be the only option acceptable to consumers.

Will this seeming disregard for sustainability continue? Our research says no. In fact, our recent data indicates that consumers are still thinking about the environment — a lot. Eighty percent of consumers believe COVID-19 stay-at-home orders have had a positive impact on the environment. Post-pandemic, they also plan to increase activities that are perceived to be beneficial to the environment.