Tackling the plastic problem : a review on perceptions, behaviors, and interventions
Heidbreder, Lea Marie (Universität Koblenz-Landau. Interdisziplinäre Forschungsgruppe Umwelt)
Babloka, Isabella (Universität Koblenz-Landau. Interdisziplinäre Forschungsgruppe Umwelt)
Drews, Stefan (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Menzel, Claudia (Universität Koblenz-Landau. Sozial-, Umwelt- und Wirtschaftspsychologie)

Date:	2019
Abstract:	The excessive production and consumption of plastic has serious consequences on the environment and human health. The reduction of plastic has therefore become a major global challenge. As technical solutions might be insufficient to curb the problem, a perspective highlighting the impact of human behavior is needed. The current literature review provides an overview of the existing social-scientific literature on plastic, ranging from risk awareness, consumers' preferences, and predictors of usage behavior to political and psychological intervention strategies. By reviewing the literature, we aim to identify potential factors for future interventions to reduce plastic consumption. The 187 studies reviewed show that people much appreciate and routinely use plastic, despite a pronounced awareness of the associated problems. Habits, norms, and situational factors seem to be especially predictive for plastic consumption behavior. Both political and psychological interventions are potentially effective, although long-term effects are often uncertain. The review closes with implications for behavior-based solutions and future research, which should combine interdisciplinary approaches and take into account cultural differences.
Grants:	European Commission 741087
Note:	Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu MdM-2015-0552
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	Plastic pollution ; Problem awareness ; Consumer behavior ; Behavior-based solutions ; Environmental psychology
Published in:	Science of the total environment, Vol. 668 (June 2019) , p. 1077-1093, ISSN 1879-1026

DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.437
PMID: 31018449

Postprint 74 p, 993.4 KB

The record appears in these collections:
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA) > Environmental and Climate Economics (ECE)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles