- Eco-conscious Brits find it twice as easy to get a date as non-eco-conscious Brits
- Two-thirds of Brits would prefer to pick up their date in an electric car than a sports car
- Littering is revealed to be the biggest dealbreaker for a potential partner
New research by electric car subscription service Onto reveals the eco-friendly are luckiest in love, with 61% eco-conscious Brits finding it easy to get a date, compared to just 33% of people who say they are not environmentally minded. In fact, over a third (35%) of Brits would not go on a date with someone if they knew they didn’t care about the environment, with women and baby boomers particularly put off by this.
The research of 2,000 people shows that it’s goodbye to gas-guzzling sports cars and hello to environmentally friendly electric vehicles, with two-thirds (65%) of Brits saying they’d prefer to pick up their date in an EV than a sports car. A third (35%) say they find it attractive if their date owns an electric car, and people are more likely to swipe right if a person includes an electric car, rather than a petrol or diesel car, in their dating profile picture. Indeed, over half (56%) of eco-conscious people would swipe right if an EV was pictured.
Littering is seen as the biggest dealbreaker in a potential partner by almost half (48%) of participants. Again, there is a gender divide, with 54% of women saying it’s a dealbreaker versus 41% of men. Consuming excessive energy by leaving the lights on comes in second, being a dealbreaker by a quarter (24%) of people. And, for 11% of gen. Z driving a petrol or diesel car is a dealbreaker. Over 80% of Brits want their date to make at least one commitment to being eco-conscious by setting up a recycling system coming out on top.
There are, however, generational differences in the eco-commitments people look for. Baby boomers are more likely to want their date to set up a recycling system (45%) or reduce their energy consumption (44%), whereas gen. Z is more likely to want them to switch to an electric car (20%) or only buy sustainable brands or second-hand clothing (16%).
Dating expert Hayley Quinn shares her top tips on how people can show off their eco-credentials and help bag themselves a date.
Hayley says: “While maybe it was cool in the 1980s to pull up on your date in a gas-guzzling sports car, times have changed, and so it’s no surprise that being eco-conscious is a desirable characteristic in a date. This new research from electric car subscription service Onto suggests that eco-conscious daters find it easier to get a date. So the good news is, if you’re militant about sorting out your recycling or proudly driving an electric car, you could find yourself with more matches who you’re more compatible with. Successful dating is one big communication skills exercise, so if sustainability is important to you, it’s time to flag that to potential dates.”
Choose illustrative photos for your dating app profile.
Apart from being your chance to look good, a well-thought-out photo also tells a thousand words. Don’t write anything into your profile that could be better communicated by a photo instead. If sustainability is your thing, a well-placed shot of you at a food market with unpackaged veggies could work well. You could be photographed with your electric car or your best pre-loved wardrobe.
Cut your dating profile down to what’s important
Everyone loves to travel, have good food and laugh with friends, so don’t make this the centerpiece of your dating app profile. Avoid tedious sentences that list your hobbies, “I like tennis, rowing and running club,” this will accidentally make you sound just like everyone else! Instead, if you’re “An emphatic recycling sorter,” “Potential winner of MasterChef Vegan Edition,” or “Likes mending things and looks pretty at home in a tool belt,”? Think about that witty one-liner crammed full of personality to use on your profile instead.
Ask people on dates you’d like to go to anyway.
To keep your dating motivation levels high, you must go on dates you’d enjoy, even if the date is a bust. Invite your potential date if your regular Saturday plans involve a farmer’s market, working on your allotment, or rustling up some yummy veggie food. Yes, it’s a little riskier than simply saying, “how about drinks this Friday?” but ultimately, you want to attract the people most compatible with you, so don’t be afraid to become a little more marmite in stating your dating preferences.
Get creative
If your first few dates have gone well, think outside the box with your date planning. Show your green credentials by getting bikes, walking, or using an electric car for your dates. In Onto’s research, people took a natural shine to stargaze and road trips. So, why not grab a rug, reusable flask and picnic essentials and set up camp beneath the night sky, hop in your EV and head out on a romantic day trip to the coast? #swoon.
“Successful dating is about becoming more you, rather than less you, than ever before: so, if you’re an eco-conscious dater, show those credentials with pride to find your perfect match,” says Hayley.
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