Attention to environmentally friendly behaviors would seem, in fact, not to be a characteristic peculiar to young people, however much they declare themselves, at least in theory, to be the most attentive on issues such as, for example, the protection of biodiversity, the destruction of forests and the depletion of natural resources. Only after the age of 25, ISTAT notes, do decidedly more virtuous behaviors begin to emerge. More than 20 percentage points are recorded among those over 55 and young people under 24 in not wasting water (53.0% of those aged 14 to 24 compared to 79.0% of those over 55), as well as in not wasting energy (53.1% of those under 24 compared to 76.1% of those over 55). On the other hand, the under-24s are increasingly inclined to use alternative means of transportation to the private car or other private motor vehicles, 29.5% habitually choose them compared to 17.3% of the over-55s. Women are on average more careful about maintaining environmentally friendly behaviors. The most striking differences are especially noticeable on purchasing behaviors: there is more than 11 percentage points difference in habitually reading ingredient labels (41.4% of women compared to 29.9% of men); lower but significant difference between those who buy organic food or products as a practice (16.0% of women compared to 11.7% of men) and zero-mile products (25.6% compared to 21.4%). Women are also more careful on average not to waste water (72.3% compared to 67.2%) and energy (74.9% compared to 70.5%).
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