ATLANTA—July 22, 2021—A June 2021 survey of 1,000 individuals conducted by GP PRO, a division of Georgia-Pacific, found that 48% of respondents increased their participation in away-from-home activities in the previous 60 days. Of that group, 32% listed the efforts businesses have taken to provide a safe and hygienic environment as one reason they are confident leaving home.

“This last year was incredibly trying, and the uncertainty of what was next took a significant toll on the overall American psyche,” said Michelle Auda, senior director of insights with GP PRO. “But consumers are now taking to the streets with renewed confidence, and businesses deserve credit for making health and hygiene a priority and, as a result, playing a role in consumers re-engaging in the everyday activities they avoided for the better part of the past year.”

Auda pointed out that while 48% of respondents increased their activity in the last 60 days, 61% said they are currently participating in away-from-home activities at the same level as they were before the pandemic, with 31% only taking virus-related safety precautions if required, and 30% taking such precautions whether required or not.

When asked which away-from-home activities they are participating in, 74% of those surveyed said in-store grocery shopping, 61% said going to a drive-thru restaurant or coffee shop, 56% stated in-store retail shopping, 50% said socializing with close friends and family, and rounding out the top five activities, 46% said indoor dining at a restaurant. Just 38% of survey respondents said they have gone to work in an office environment in the previous 60 days.

The findings from this most recent GP PRO consumer mindset survey are vastly different from those revealed in a similar survey GP PRO conducted five months earlier in February of 2021. At that time, only 9% of consumers were participating in pre-COVID away-from-home activities with no safety precautions, and 19% were engaging in such activities with precautions. As for those staying home, the February survey found that 15% of consumers avoided activities such as shopping, going to a salon, or socializing with friends and family; that number dropped to 7% in the June survey.

Said Auda, “We are hopeful this current state of renewed consumer confidence will continue to grow and help bolster a robust economic and social recovery. At the same time, we encourage businesses and individuals to continue to demonstrate a commitment to health and safety, particularly as the threat of new coronavirus variants remains and the cold and flu season approaches.”

About GP PRO
Based in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiaries are among the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, tableware, paper-based packaging, office papers, cellulose, specialty fibers, building products, and related chemicals. The company operates approximately 150 facilities and employs approximately 30,000 people directly and creates nearly 80,000 jobs indirectly. GP PRO, a division of Georgia-Pacific, manufactures and sells well-known brands like ActiveAire®, Angel Soft® Professional Series, Brawny®, Compact®, Dixie®, Dixie Ultra®, enMotion®, and Pacific Blue™. GP PRO products meet restroom, foodservice, and break room needs for office buildings, healthcare, foodservice, high traffic, lodging, retail, and education facilities, plus a wide range of industrial and manufacturing facilities in North America.