Barriers and Enablers to Buying Biodegradable and Compostable Plastic Packaging

Abstract

Biodegradable and compostable plastic packaging (BCPP) has the potential to reduce a global plastic waste problem. We aimed to identify influences on buying BCPP as a basis for designing strategies that enable BCPP’s environmental benefits. Using a UK-focused citizen science dataset, we thematically analysed 610 survey responses to a question exploring reasons for BCPP purchase. Themes are categorised as barriers and enablers and according to the components of the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behaviour (COM-B) model of behaviour. Key barriers concerned: psychological capability (not understanding terminology used to label packaging, not taking notice of packaging, and preferring other types of packaging and product qualities); reflective motivation (negative beliefs about BCPP’s environmental impacts and skepticism over decomposition claims), and physical opportunity (no access to appropriate waste management). Key enablers concern: reflective motivation (positive beliefs about BCPP’s environmental impact and resolve to behave pro-environmentally) and physical opportunity (access to appropriate waste management). Reducing ambiguity concerning the labels of biodegradable and compostable may reduce skepticism over environmental claims of packaging. Interventions should improve information about the source of the packaging material, how the packaging waste is processed, and how to dispose of the packaging. This will not be sufficient unless facilities for local BCPP waste collection and processing are increased.

Barriers and Enablers to Food Waste Recycling: A Mixed Methods Study amongst UK Citizens

“…While these frameworks have been mostly applied in patient and healthcare professional populations [25,[29][30][31][32][33][34], they have also been applied to understanding and changing a range of environmentally-and socially-significant target behaviours such as: recycling [35], water consumption [36], reusable face-mask use [37], plastic packaging consumption [38,39], fuel-stacking [40], higher-welfare food choice [41], data leakage in financial organisations [42] and participation in citizen science [43]. While these frameworks have been mostly applied in patient and healthcare professional populations [25,[29][30][31][32][33][34], they have also been applied to understanding and changing a range of environmentally-and socially-significant target behaviours such as: recycling [35], water consumption [36], reusable face-mask use [37], plastic packaging consumption [38,39], fuel-stacking [40], higher-welfare food choice [41], data leakage in financial organisations [42] and participation in citizen science [43].…”

“…While these frameworks have been mostly applied in patient and healthcare professional populations [ 25 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ], they have also been applied to understanding and changing a range of environmentally- and socially-significant target behaviours such as: recycling [ 35 ], water consumption [ 36 ], reusable face-mask use [ 37 ], plastic packaging consumption [ 38 , 39 ], fuel-stacking [ 40 ], higher-welfare food choice [ 41 ], data leakage in financial organisations [ 42 ] and participation in citizen science [ 43 ].…”

Two Birds with One Stone: Bioplastics and Food Waste Anaerobic Co-Digestion

“…This is particularly relevant for commercial and retail waste, where surplus food is often disposed of in its packaging (once other redistribution options have been exhausted). This holds true for households, where selective sorting of food and packaging waste can be seen as an inconvenience by consumers [38,39] (Section 4.2). Yet, most plastics-whether they are conventional, vaguely 'biodegradable' or even certified compostable-are separated at the AD process and sent to landfill or incineration [40], raising questions about the merits of a joint collection and processing system for FW and BBPs.…”

A Perspective of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Plastic Waste Management and Cooperatives of Waste Pickers in Brazil

“…There are no public policies and guidance for households to properly sort their waste. Furthermore, incorrect disposal of biodegradable plastics can aggravate another environmental problem, such as the increase in the volume of landfills and dumps [ 30 ]. The appropriate conditions for biodegradation are specifically provided in industrial composting facilities, which is an incipient process in the country [ 31 ].…”