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Interesting discussions in the @SETAC_plastics session!
One note that I brought up in the #plastic pollution, regulation, and monitoring breakout room was better understanding human behavior.
Another point mentioned is placing blame on the producer, not the individual. (1/n)
One note that I brought up in the #plastic pollution, regulation, and monitoring breakout room was better understanding human behavior.
Another point mentioned is placing blame on the producer, not the individual. (1/n)
I found this to be an interesting point, both are true and should be investigated and both need to work in tandem.
If we want infrastructural and producer-related changes around #plastics and #waste, that involves some degree of behavior change. (2/n)
If we want infrastructural and producer-related changes around #plastics and #waste, that involves some degree of behavior change. (2/n)
We have a culture of convenience.
If a potential solution is to switch to reusables: that is going to ask more of the consumer, whether intended or not.
If you ban plastic bags, you want people to use #reusable bags over paper bags. (3/n)
If a potential solution is to switch to reusables: that is going to ask more of the consumer, whether intended or not.
If you ban plastic bags, you want people to use #reusable bags over paper bags. (3/n)
So if one solution is to replace food take-away containers with reusable containers:
How do you do that in a way that maximizes return of containers and is the least difficult?
It's one reason we have single-stream #recycling to increase people recycling their waste. (4/n)
How do you do that in a way that maximizes return of containers and is the least difficult?
It's one reason we have single-stream #recycling to increase people recycling their waste. (4/n)
So yes: blame the producer!
But I am also interested in what changes producers can make that fall in line with what a consumer will accept and actually do.
What amount of convenience are people willing to give up and what kind of messages can ease frustrations? (5/n)
But I am also interested in what changes producers can make that fall in line with what a consumer will accept and actually do.
What amount of convenience are people willing to give up and what kind of messages can ease frustrations? (5/n)
Incentivizing reusables is important in a circular transition.
Recycling is already a confusing system that people have trouble following, changes need to be easier.
I have never passed a #recycling bin on my street that is fully correct in its sorting of materials. (6/n)
Recycling is already a confusing system that people have trouble following, changes need to be easier.
I have never passed a #recycling bin on my street that is fully correct in its sorting of materials. (6/n)
It reminds me of a convo I had with a colleague involved in organic material management in NY that I think about a lot.
He said he was at a conference and someone said:
What if meal planning, composting, and other actions to reduce food waste are too hard / ineffective? (7/n)
He said he was at a conference and someone said:
What if meal planning, composting, and other actions to reduce food waste are too hard / ineffective? (7/n)
And honestly, #foodwaste reduction on the consumer end can be very difficult. How do you make it easier?
Food boxes?
Easier ways to meal plan?
Better upper chain management before food gets to the consumer? (8/n)
Food boxes?
Easier ways to meal plan?
Better upper chain management before food gets to the consumer? (8/n)
Like... should we just get rid of grocery stores and have a crazy cool system of shipping food to people?
Would this be more carbon efficient given people wouldn't have to drive to stores?
I don't know, maybe not! But big problems require new solutions. (9/n)
Would this be more carbon efficient given people wouldn't have to drive to stores?
I don't know, maybe not! But big problems require new solutions. (9/n)
All this rambling to say:
Blame the producer, but if we don't understand the behavior of the individual, we won't make a system that is acceptable and doable by the everyday consumer.
Really interested in other thoughts on this, so please jump in!
(End thread)
Blame the producer, but if we don't understand the behavior of the individual, we won't make a system that is acceptable and doable by the everyday consumer.
Really interested in other thoughts on this, so please jump in!
(End thread)
Also a big shoutout to @SabinePahl who has me thinking about these issues much more in the context of my research after her informative talk on the subject of the human dimension & behavior change in a #plastic system in the first #microplastinar! 
