Improving compostable plastic disposal: An application of the Behaviour Change Wheel intervention development method

Abstract

Compostable plastics have great potential environmental benefits, however, the damage caused by incorrect waste management offsets them. This study aims to develop a behavior change intervention aimed at improving compostable plastic disposal. We illustrate application of the Behavior Change Wheel framework to design an intervention in this context. First, the target behavior was understood by specifying it and identifying potential behavioral influences. Second, behavioral influences were systematically linked to potential intervention strategies and refined by evaluating the likely affordability, practicability, effectiveness, acceptability, equity and potential for side-effects (APEASE criteria) in a UK implementation context. Finally, intervention content and implementation options were selected by systematically selecting specific Behavior Change Techniques and refining them by evaluating them against APEASE criteria. The target behavior was identified as UK citizens disposing of compostable plastic waste in the food waste bin meant for collection by local authorities. Influences on compostable plastic disposal were identified as “psychological capability” (i.e., attention and knowledge), “reflective motivation” (i.e., beliefs around environmental impact of compostable plastics) and “physical opportunity” (i.e., access to appropriate waste management). “Education” and “environmental restructuring” were the intervention types selected. “Communications/marketing”, “guidelines” and “restructuring the physical and social environment” were the policy options selected. Selected behavior change techniques were: instruction on how to perform the behavior, prompts/cues, adding objects to the environment and restructuring the physical environment. The resulting intervention is a disposal instruction label for compostable packaging, comprising of instructions and a logo. The next step is user testing the developed disposal instruction labels in terms of their effect on promoting the desired disposal behavior. The novelty of this study includes the development of an intervention to reduce compostable plastic waste and the explicit, step-by-step documentation of the intervention development process. The scientific significance is therefore both applied and theoretical. When evaluated, our intervention has the potential to yield insights relating to what improves compostable plastic disposal amongst citizens. This, in turn, has key policy implications for product and package labeling. By openly documenting our method, we demonstrate a systematic and transparent approach to intervention design, providing an adaptable template and model for others.

Promoting planting in front gardens: a systematic approach to intervention development

“…The purpose of the BCW is to provide a systematic and comprehensive analysis of available intervention options for a given behaviour change challenge, to identify those most likely to be effective. The BCW is used frequently in many areas of research, most frequently to health, for example, patient and healthcare provider behaviour change [33][34][35][36][37], but has more recently seen its expansion into sustainability behaviour change research [38,39]. To the best of our knowledge, it has had no application within the context of promoting gardening.…”

“…For instance, aside from Chalmin-Pui et al [12], few interventions have been developed and evaluated to promote front gardening amongst UK citizens. Chalmin-Pui et al's [12] intervention consisted of introducing ornamental plants to 38 previously bare front gardens (≈10 m 2 ) within an economically deprived region of Northern England. The findings showed significant decreases in perceived stress post-intervention, which aligned with a higher proportion of 'healthy' diurnal cortisol patterns.…”

Promoting planting in front gardens: a systematic approach to intervention development

“…The purpose of the BCW is to provide a systematic and comprehensive analysis of available intervention options for a given behaviour change challenge, to identify those most likely to be effective. The BCW is used frequently in many areas of research, most frequently to health, for example, patient and healthcare provider behaviour change [ 33 – 37 ], but has more recently seen its expansion into sustainability behaviour change research [ 38 , 39 ]. To the best of our knowledge, it has had no application within the context of promoting gardening.…”

Enabling desired disposal of compostable plastic packaging: an evaluation of disposal instruction labels

“…There are different nationally and internationally accredited certifications assessing the credentials of compostable packaging. For a summary of these, the reader is referred elsewhere (e.g., Allison et al, 2022).…”

“…It is therefore important to conduct further studies testing a variety of packaging formats to minimise the potential confounds of past associations with a particular type of packaging. An intervention aimed at promoting the correct disposal of compostable plastics within a UK implementation context has been developed but has yet to be evaluated for effectiveness in changing behaviour (Allison et al, 2022). This intervention consists of disposal instruction labels aimed at addressing one of the key barriers to correct disposal-not knowing which bin is the correct one for disposal.…”