A new Earth Day report shows that the average American experiences eco guilt 48 times a year—that’s almost once a week feeling like you’re not doing enough to help the environment.
So what’s making us feel so bad? According to the study:
- 🍕 31% feel guilty about wasting food
- 🗑️ 29% feel guilty for tossing things that could’ve been recycled
- 📺 27% feel guilty about leaving the TV on when no one’s watching
Even with the best intentions, life gets busy, and half of us admit that when we’re stressed or rushing, we’re way more likely to skip the reusable bag or throw plastic in the trash.
But it’s not all bad news:💚 73% of Americans say they wish they were more eco-friendly, and a third of us are actively looking for ways to reduce our eco guilt.
Not surprisingly, Millennials and Gen Z feel it the most. They grew up with climate change lessons, environmental documentaries, and a million ways to recycle wrong—so the pressure’s real.
So if you’re feeling guilty about tossing that soda can or forgetting your tote bag, just know—you’re not alone. And hey, Earth Day’s a solid reminder to reset, rethink, and maybe recycle that pizza box (if it’s not too greasy).