scholarly journals Non-monetary intervention to discourage consumption of single-use plastic bags

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
GAURI CHANDRA

Abstract The over-utilization of plastic bags has pushed governments to implement a mix of policy measures ranging from banning the bags altogether to charging a fee for them. However, these policies are often accompanied by unintended consequences. Paying for plastic bags, in particular, may crowd out the negative emotions tied to their harmful impact on the environment, and may be subject to a ‘rebound effect’. In a randomized controlled experiment, I tested four different treatments aimed at nudging or encouraging consumers to carry their own bag to the stores. Specifically, I tested the effects of changing the framing of the question regarding carrier bags at the checkout till in stores using a yes/no response format, in which the yes option corresponds to the desired behaviour. The treatment with the yes/no framing format was found to have as strong and significant an effect as a charge of 5 pence per bag on discouraging single-use plastic bag consumption.

2021 ◽  
pp. 0734242X2110039
Author(s):  
Asphat Muposhi ◽  
Mercy Mpinganjira ◽  
Marius Wait

Although the ban on plastic bags is gaining in prominence as a policy option to manage plastic bag litter, there are mixed views on its rationale and effectiveness. This study employs a systematic literature review to understand considerations, benefits and unintended consequences of banning plastic bags. The review’s results pointed to the limited success of a plastic bag ban owing to lack of suitable alternatives, limited state capacity to monitor and enforce the ban, thriving black market, structural and instrumental power of the plastic industry. The power of the industry was manifested by the covert practice of deflecting accountability to consumers by focusing on business-oriented solutions, including an inclination towards self-regulation. The findings of this study underscored the need for a global treaty to address the transient nature of plastic bag litter and moving away from the symbolic gesture of targeting only plastic shopping bags but considering the environmental impact of all forms of plastic such as straws, foamed plastics, plastic bottles and caps. There is a general consensus in literature that the end of plastic shopping bags is not nigh due to their utilitarian benefits. This study therefore recommends the promotion of a circular economy focusing on ecological modernisation, sustainable plastic bag manufacturing and recovery strategies such as recycling as a long-term strategy. A significant strand of literature reviewed also recommends the adoption of community-driven approaches such as voluntary initiatives as opposed to a plastic bag ban as they proved to be effective in promoting environmental citizenship behaviours in countries such as Finland.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gbadebo Collins Adeyanju ◽  
Teslin Maria Augustine ◽  
Stefan Volkmann ◽  
Usman Adetunji Oyebamiji ◽  
Sonia Ran ◽  
...  

AbstractThe devastating impacts that bio-degradable products such as plastic bags are having on human health, wildlife, and the environment is enormous, especially single-use once. Single-use plastics are non-biodegradable products and does not undergo biological decomposition nor degenerate. This review examines various government regulations targeted at changing behaviour against plastic bags consumption and their effectiveness. Following a rigorous search in 13 databases, including PubMed, Science Direct, Springer Nature, etc. only 17 peer-reviewed journal articles that are published between 2000 and 2019 and met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Each study’s methodological quality was assessed using the GRADE system, and data were extracted using a uniquely designed form. The results revealed that regulations based solely on the thickness of plastic bags does not reduce plastic bags consumption. However, regulations focused on banning ‘single-use’ plastic bag usage, imposing higher taxes and levies on consumers, significantly reduce plastic bags consumption. Overall, the latter is considered the most effective. Also, the results show that attitude, perception and behaviour change toward bio-degradable products or climate-friendly behaviour can be significantly influenced by public policy or regulations. Although the behaviour seems short-lived in some countries, therefore further studies need to probe on why. Also, the absence of a national regulatory strategy in North America reduced the inclusion of studies from the region, hence need for more research focusing on sub-national regulations.


Author(s):  
Ian Lim

Despite good intentions, the increasing number of plastic bag bans aimed at alleviating marine plastic pollution saw a correlated increase in the number of unintended consequences that emerged alongside the bans, suggesting that human behavior towards plastic bag consumption have not changed, but merely shifted, and are feeding into other major international environmental catastrophes. Nudge theory, which helps people make better choices for themselves without inhibiting their free will, is a potential solution that has been shown to play a subtle but important role in providing options under circumstances where complex information needs to be streamlined for the wider community, avoiding any unintended consequences and behavioural shifts that might arise from instruments that diminishes autonomy. It is therefore timely to look into the insights of nudge theory to encourage a positive behavioural change to reduce plastic bag consumption. Here we apply a systematic literature review to show how successful applications of nudges in supermarkets can be leveraged to reduce plastic bag consumption. We find that the current applications of nudges in various industries worldwide, including supermarkets have produced positive and encouraging results, as well as producing lasting behavioural change among the wider community. Supermarkets are identified as a powerful deployment site of these nudges due to their positioning as a dominant provider of plastic bags to the wider community, as well as being the largest and leading provider of daily food needs. Finally, we synthesise our findings to produce a coherent and testable framework of actionable interventions that supermarkets can employ to nudge customers towards reduced plastic bag reliance, accompanied with a visual timeline of a customer shopping in a supermarket experiencing these nudges.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 128
Author(s):  
Maria Ardianti Kurnia Sari

Plastic has become a massive problem globally since there is a large portion of the ocean contaminated with plastic waste. Plastic becomes a material that cannot be broken down by soil and takes years to be broken. Therefore, many people try to influence each other to adoptthe zero waste lifestyle as a concern to the Earth. Zero waste has become a global activity that always encourages the society to reduce single-use plastics. Using single-use plastics can be found in everyday life, such as when going shopping to the market, sometimes the sellers will give plastic bag to the buyers. Most of the time, the plastic bag is only used once tobe throwninto the trash can. This research uses qualitative method. The researcher analyzes through zero waste lifestyle videos and books as the primary sources of this analysis. The results of this research are first, the step to get started to become a “zero-waste lifestyler”, second, how to be the “zero waste lifestyler”, and third, how zero waste can give the global lifestyle movement in Bali, Indonesia as their primary program, Bye Bye Plastic Bags, as in June 2019, Bali becomes the first province in Indonesia to ban in using single-use plastics.Keywords: bye bye plastic bags, single-use plastic; zero waste lifestyle


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 290-305
Author(s):  
Ismi Rania Yolanda ◽  
Acwin Hendra Saputra

ABSTRACT: The increase in plastic consumption per capita in Indonesia by 17 kilograms per year and consumption growth reaching 6%-7% per year have re-ignited discussions about the plan to expand excisable goods on plastics. Previously in 2016 the government had discussed the imposition of excise on plastic consumption which had been approved by the House of Representatives. This study seeks to explore how the plastic excise tax collection scheme plan will be implemented in Indonesia and the extent to which the discussion process has been carried out. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach which is carried out by describing and interpreting the collected data and finds that the delay in implementing the plastic bag excise policy is caused by several factors, namely the misalignment of perspectives between internal government units and the unstable economic situation, especially due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, it is a challenge for the government to determine the right time and the next single-use plastic object that will be subject to excise. The government should also maintain accountability by continuously providing information on the amount of excise levy and its allocation, while still paying attention to the development of the national economic recovery and excise policies for plastic products to reduce the impact of negative externalities on single-use plastic consumption. Keywords: excisable goods, plastic excise, extensification, negative externalities, plastic bags ABSTRAK: Peningkatan konsumsi plastik per kapita di Indonesia sebesar 17 kilogram per tahun dan pertumbuhan konsumsi mencapai 6%-7% per tahun memantik kembali diskusi tentang rencana ekstensifikasi barang kena cukai atas plastik. Sebelumnya pada tahun 2016 pemerintah telah mewacanakan pengenaaan cukai konsumsi plastik yang telah disetujui oleh Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat. Penelitian ini berusaha menggali kembali bagaimana rencana skema pemungutan cukai plastik yang akan diterapkan di Indonesia dan sejauh mana proses pembahasan yang sudah dilakukan. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif deskriptif yang dilakukan dengan penggambaran dan penginterpretasian atas data yang terkumpul dan mendapati bahwa penundaan penerapan kebijakan cukai kantong plastik disebabkan oleh beberapa hal, yaitu ketidakselarasan perspektif antarunit internal pemerintah dan keadaan ekonomi yang belum stabil terutama karena dampak pandemi Covid-19. Oleh karena itu, menjadi tantangan bagi pemerintah dalam menentukan waktu yang tepat dan objek plastik sekali pakai selanjutnya yang akan dikenakan cukai. Pemerintah juga harus menjaga akuntabilitas dengan terus memberikan informasi besaran pungutan cukai dan peruntukannya, dengan tetap memperhatikan perkembangan pemulihan ekonomi nasional dan kebijakan cukai produk plastik untuk mengurangi dampak eksternalitas negatif atas konsumsi plastik sekali pakai. Kata Kunci: barang kena cukai, cukai plastik, ekstensifikasi, eksternalitas negatif, kantong plastik


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 142
Author(s):  
Ian Lim

Despite good intentions, the increasing number of plastic bag bans aimed at alleviating marine plastic pollution saw a correlated increase in the number of unintended consequences that emerged alongside the bans, suggesting that human behavior towards plastic bag consumption have not changed, but merely shifted, and are feeding into other major international environmental catastrophes. Nudge theory, which helps people make better choices for themselves without inhibiting their free will, is a potential solution that has been shown to play a subtle but important role in providing options under circumstances where complex information needs to be streamlined for the wider community, avoiding any unintended consequences and behavioural shifts that might arise from instruments that diminishes autonomy. It is therefore timely to look into the insights of nudge theory to encourage a positive behavioural change to reduce plastic bag consumption. Here we apply a systematic literature review to show how successful applications of nudges in supermarkets can be leveraged to reduce plastic bag consumption. We find that the current applications of nudges in various industries worldwide, including supermarkets have produced positive and encouraging results, as well as producing lasting behavioural change among the wider community. Supermarkets are identified as a powerful deployment site of these nudges due to their positioning as a dominant provider of plastic bags to the wider community, as well as being the largest and leading provider of daily food needs. Finally, we synthesise our findings to produce a coherent and testable framework of actionable interventions that supermarkets can employ to nudge customers towards reduced plastic bag reliance, accompanied with a visual timeline of a customer shopping in a supermarket experiencing these nudges.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 563-578
Author(s):  
Allan Bahya Zahran ◽  
Atika Sari ◽  
Almairah Nurfauziah ◽  
Denita Nur Anisya ◽  
Munaya Fauziah

Plastic, particularly plastic bags, is an object that cannot be separated from everyday life. Plastic bags can be used as a wrapper and to transport luggage or groceries, among other things. The use of plastic bags is out of control as a result of the practice of giving them out for free. As a result, better management is required to limit the usage of plastic bags, one of which is the establishment of a paid plastic bag policy. The goal of this study was to see how FKM UMJ students' opinions influenced their use of paid plastic bags in 2021. In June 2021, a qualitative investigation was done as part of this research. In-depth interviews and document reviews were used to acquire data. Purposive sampling was used to choose students from the FKM UMJ Class of 2019 as informants for this investigation. Based on the research that has been done, it is found that the influence of the attitude of FKM UMJ students towards the use of paid plastic bags is positive and supports government policies regarding this matter. So it's time for us to take wise steps in using single-use plastic bags.


Author(s):  
Ian Lim

Plastic bag bans aimed at alleviating marine plastic pollution have resulted in dire, unintended consequences, indicating a shift in general behaviour, that further feeds into major international environmental catastrophes. However, nudge theory is a potential solution that has been shown to play a subtle but important role in providing options under circumstances where complex information needs to be streamlined for the wider community. It is therefore timely to look into the insights of nudge theory to encourage a positive behavioural change to reduce plastic bag consumption. Here we apply a systematic literature review to show how successful applications of nudges in supermarkets can be leveraged to reduce plastic bag consumption. We find that the current applications of nudges in various industries worldwide, including supermarkets have produced positive and encouraging results, as well as producing lasting behavioural change among the wider community. Supermarkets are identified as a powerful deployment site of these nudges due to their positioning as a dominant provider of plastic bags to the wider community, as well as being the largest and leading provider of daily food needs. Finally, we synthesise our findings to produce a coherent and testable framework of actionable interventions that supermarkets can employ to nudge customers towards reduced plastic bag reliance, accompanied with a visualised timeline of a customer shopping in a supermarket experiencing these nudges.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa Ellen Lavelle-Hill ◽  
Gavin Smith ◽  
Peter Bibby ◽  
David Clarke ◽  
James Goulding

Despite the success of plastic bag charges in the UK, there are still around a billion single-use plastic bags bought each year in England alone, and the government have made plans to increase the levy from 5 to 10 pence. Previous research has identified motivations for bringing personal bags to a supermarket, but little is known about the individuals who are continuing to frequently purchase single-use plastic bags after the levy. In this study, over a million loyalty card transaction records from a high-street health and beauty retailer were harnessed to study 12,968 individuals' bag buying behaviour (analysed using descriptive statistics). Statistical regional differences in plastic bag buying throughout the UK occurred. From the transaction data 2,326 frequent single-use plastic bag buyers were identified and matched randomly to infrequent buyers, creating a balanced sub-sample which was used for predictive modelling (N=4,652). For each individual in the modelling sample, their transaction data was matched to questionnaire responses measuring demographics, shopping motivations, and individual differences. Using this data, an exploratory machine learning approach was utilised to investigate the demographic and psychological predictors of frequent plastic bag consumption. It was found that frequent bag buyers spent more money in store, were younger, more likely to be male, less frugal, open to new experiences, and more displeased with their appearance (compared with infrequent bag buyers). Interestingly, environmental concerns did not predict plastic bag consumption, highlighting the disconnect between predicting pro-environmental attitudes and real world environmental behaviour.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Ida Bagus Komang Surya Werdiyasa

On the first day of 2019, Government of Denpasar City, Bali, published a new regulation, namely Mayor Regulation No. 36/2018 (Perwali No. 36 Tahun 2018) to minimize the usage of plastic, as single used shopping Bags in Denpasar City. The regulation has been active since January 1, 2019. Plastic has become part of modern days civilization. Various industries apply the usage of plastic, due to its durability, lightweight and easy to afford. However, beyond all the convenience it offers, turns out a terrible fact awaits; a hazardous plastic waste that impossible to decompose naturally. Plastic is classified into seven types according to its composition, they are Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS) and the ‘O.’ Plastic is recyclable, nevertheless, it mostly ended in the ocean, due to the finite availability of plastic recycler in Indonesia, as well as low social awareness in keeping the environment clean. Mayor Regulation No.36/2018 is an effort of Denpasar city to minimize single-use plastic bag. The Government through the local regulation suggests shopping centers and modern stores provide environmental-friendly alternative bags with biodegradable standard or permanent bags that can be used repeatedly, to reduce society’s dependence on using single-use plastic bags when shopping. The regulation is a clear example of Denpasar City in preserving the environment based on the philosophical foundation of the concept of Tri Hita Karana. It is a Balinese concept to maintain harmonious relationships between humans to God, among humankind, as well as human and their environment.


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