Single-use plastic bag policies in the Southern African development community

Bezerra, Joana; Walker, Tony R.; Clayton, C. Andrea; Adam, Issahaku

doi:10.1016/j.envc.2021.100029

Cited by 41 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…While Canada's recycling figures are comparable to global averages, Canada claims to be moving toward a circular economy for plastics by pursuing zero-plastic waste and improving beyond the 89% of total plastics destined for landfills, incineration or leakage into the environment (Walker and Xanthos, 2018). By virtue of reactive measures by governments, corporations, nongovernment organizations and individuals, we are now seeing emerging trends of plastic bag bans, fines, taxes, and industry phase-outs of certain single-use plastics (Xanthos and Walker, 2017; Schnurr et al, 2018; Adam et al, 2020; Clayton et al, 2020; Bezerra et al, 2021). The range of measures are considered to be tiered by performance-based approaches, market instruments, and voluntary initiatives (CCME, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Single-use plastic packaging in the Canadian food industry: consumer behavior and perceptions

Walker

McGuinty

Charlebois

et al. 2021

Humanit Soc Sci Commun

117

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Single-use plastic food packaging is a major contributor to the global solid waste problem. Although the food industry is developing strategies to reduce single-use plastic packaging, it needs to better understand consumer awareness and attitudes about the issue. As consumer awareness about single-use plastic waste outpaces private sector practices, this study considered personal motivation factors, government policies, and innovative solutions related to single-use plastic food packaging. This Canada-wide study surveyed 1014 consumers and their willingness to pay premiums for sustainable food packaging alternatives and motivations to reduce single-use plastic waste. Overwhelmingly, most (93.7%) respondents were personally motivated to reduce consumption of single-use plastic food packaging. Canadians were highly motivated to reduce single-use plastic food packaging, but less willing to pay for sustainable alternatives. While environmental concerns were more critical than food safety, Canadians acknowledged that sustainable packaging alternatives were more desirable than outright plastic bag bans, despite not willing to pay for them. Using approaches that consider multiple driving factors on consumer behavior and opinions towards use of single-use plastic food packaging, limitations, recommendations and future research are proposed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Single-use plastic packaging in the Canadian food industry: consumer behavior and perceptions

Walker

McGuinty

Charlebois

et al. 2021

Humanit Soc Sci Commun

117

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, it plays a crucial role in gradually shaping individual attitudes and behavior. This theory is supported by Carlos et al [26], who found that knowledge will be the driving force for the formation of one's attitudes and judgments which can change one's behavior eventually. Environmental attitudes are one of the vital driving factors along with the knowledge that could shape one's behavior.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 79%

“…This theory was also proved by a study that found no significant relationship between knowledge of individuals' behavior, neither in individuals with excellent nor poor environmental knowledge [39]. However, it does not mean that there is no role of knowledge in developing awareness of the environment in individuals, as Bezerra et al [26] found in their study that knowledge develops an attitude and later shows in their behavior [26].…”

Section: Attitudementioning

confidence: 90%

Analyzing Urban Communities Level of Environmental Awareness for a Future Sustainable Use of Plastic Packaging

Ridwan¹,

Frimawaty²,

Herdiansyah³

2023

IJSDP

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For the last decades, problems have occur due to the increased plastic used as packaging for various products. Plastic may be considered profitable for the company for their products because it is easy to use and has a low price which economically benefical for the company. However, problems may arise due to its nature of being hard to break, the material making it difficult to decompose, causing piles of plastic waste. Therefore, this research aims to determine the level of environmental awareness in individuals. We aim from the humanperspective since human are the subject of plastic users in daily life, as we access the level of knowledge, attitude, and behavior towards plastic use. We used a quantitative research method and distributed questionnaires to 268 respondents. Distributed frequency analysis was done using SPSS, and we categorized the total scores of each variable into two groups. Then, we composite the three variables to determine the level of environmental awareness. Results show that based on respondent's knowledge, attitude, and behavior towards plastic use, the majority of respondents, about 55.6% have good environmental awareness, whereas the other 44.4% have poor environmental awareness. This result indicates that the respondents already have formed their awareness, which may be beneficial in forming their pro-environmental behavior in future daily life, therefor aiming for future sustainable behavior of plastic use, especially plastic for packaging.

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“…Governments may incur lobbying by the plastic industry and packaging importers if regulating the production and consumption of single-use plastics (Walker, 2021c). To limit resistance and gain support, governments should offer incentives to industry before new legislation is implemented to guarantee sufficient time for plastic manufacturers, distributors and retailers to adapt to the new stipulations (Clayton et al, 2021;Bezerra et al, 2021).…”

Section: Provide Incentives To Industrymentioning

confidence: 99%

The tropics should not become the world's plastic pollution problem

Walker

2023

Journal of Tropical Futures: Sustainable Business, Governance &

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Unsustainable plastic production, use and mismanagement have resulted in increased plastic pollution in the environment threatening sustainability, especially in the tropics. Countries in the tropics have been disproportionally impacted by plastic pollution due to imports of plastic waste from developed countries, or because tropical Small Island Developing States have become overwhelmed by single-use plastics used widely in the tourism sector. However, plastic pollution is pervasive and is not just limited to the tropics. Plastic pollution has resulted in widespread environmental, economic and social impacts globally. Most plastics are derived from fossil fuels which contribute to climate change via greenhouse gas emissions, and plastic pollution also harms wildlife threatening biodiversity, thus placing enormous pressure on earth’s limited resources. Although downstream strategies to curb plastic pollution exist, they are infective in the face of increased upstream plastic production. Therefore, the international community has recognized that a more holistic approach is required to reduce plastic pollution. Current plastic production and waste generation are still outpacing existing plastic reduction regulations. This viewpoint shows why unsustainable global plastic production has resulted in increased global plastic pollution, including in the tropics, but also highlights how ambitious plastic pollution reduction policies can help transition towards a more sustainable plastics future.

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Single-use plastic bag policies in the Southern African development community

Cited by 41 publications

References 64 publications

Single-use plastic packaging in the Canadian food industry: consumer behavior and perceptions

Single-use plastic packaging in the Canadian food industry: consumer behavior and perceptions

Analyzing Urban Communities Level of Environmental Awareness for a Future Sustainable Use of Plastic Packaging

The tropics should not become the world's plastic pollution problem

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