The sentiment is also shared by the majority of consumers in each of the 28 countries covered in the research project. Agreement tops 80% in 18 of these countries and it is particularly widespread in Serbia (93%), Peru and Russia (both 88%).

According to the survey, people say that they are ready for change. Three in four global consumers (75%) now agree that they want to buy products with as little packaging as possible — a figure that rises to 81% in Great Britain, Hungary, Peru and 86% in Serbia.

77% of South Africans agree that they would prefer products with as little packaging as possible. Meanwhile, 71% globally believe that single-use plastic products should be banned as soon as possible, and support for such a move breaks the seven out of every 10 barriers in 19 of the countries surveyed.

South Africans show high support for such a ban with three-quarters (75%) agreeing with the idea of a ban. People in the United States show lower levels of approval, with 57% favouring a ban.

The survey points to potential benefits awaiting manufacturers who make the switch. A significant 84% of connected South Africans say they feel better about brands that make changes to achieve better environmental outcomes. This is higher than the global average of 75% and 71% in the United States.

At the same time, the survey also points to limits to what people may be willing to do personally to decrease the amount of plastic that they use. Across all of the 28 countries in the survey, 63% say they would be willing to change where they shop if it meant that they would use less packaging, and this is higher in South Africa with two-thirds being willing to change where they shop (67%).

But this figure falls to under 60% in many of the world's wealthiest markets. The United States's proportion that would be ready to change their regular shopping routine stands at 49%.

The survey finds big variations in people's assessments of the local household recycling service in the areas where they live. In Russia and Serbia, less than a quarter are satisfied (24% and 22% respectively), while in Sweden and Canada satisfaction stands at 70%. South Africans show very low levels (42%) of the approval of the recycling service.

A similar international variation can be seen when it comes to the clarity of the rules for household recycling locally. These are rated particularly high by people living in Belgium and Germany, where the proportion agreeing that the services are 'good' stands at 72% and 70% respectively.

At the other end of the spectrum are the assessments of the local recycling services in Serbia and Russia, which stand at 22% and 21% respectively. Only 38% of South Africans believe that the recycling rules for household waste are clear in the area where they live.

Looking across the 28 countries, it's the British who are most aware of the limits of recycling, with only a quarter (24%) believing that all plastics can be recycled. This is compared to a global average of 55% and more than two-thirds in Poland (67%), Serbia (69%) and Peru (74%). 59% of South Africans believe that all plastics can be recycled.

Mari Harris, Ipsos senior client officer, says that brands that deliver packaging, which is sustainable and can maintain benefits and price advantages, will likely be most competitive as consumers engage in more environment-friendly shopping habits.

Harris concludes that South Africans are also showing that recycling systems and rules are lacking, and an improvement in this could greatly increase the volumes of recycling done in South Africa.

For more information, visit www.ipsos.com. You can also follow Ipsos on Facebook or on Twitter.