UK households cut nearly 33 million tonnes of carbon dioxide during the period of Covid-19 restrictions.

That’s according to the UK Carbon Consumption Index by the global professional services company Accenture which suggests that the drop was mainly driven by reduced budget spent on clothes, transport and accommodation.

The reduced spending on transport led to an average household weekly emissions cut of 23%, an estimated 39 kilograms, the authors of the report said.

Accenture says that gas and electricity consumption represented the largest source of household emissions, with a share of 43%.

The report also estimates the average UK households’ spending generated 204 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions every week in 2020.

That compares to an estimated 227 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions each week.

Peter Lacy, Accenture’s Global Sustainability Services lead and Chief Responsibility Officer, said: “While the pandemic forced much of this consumption change, it has shown how big an impact individual households can make in cutting carbon emissions.

“But it’s not all down to consumers. Businesses have a significant role to play too, by accelerating innovation, finding ways to design, make and supply net zero products and services and educating consumers about ‘greener’ options on the shelf.”