Reducing single-use plastic in everyday social practices: Insights from a living lab experiment
- Plastic is ubiquitous in everyday social practices, and few consumer activities do not involve its direct or indirect use. Single-use plastic (SUP) based on fossil fuels is particularly problematic, as it seems virtually unavoidable, especially in everyday products, from plastic wrapping cucumbers to shampoo bottles. Although reducing SUP is crucial, there is little evidence of achieving this in everyday social practices. This paper examines the practicality of reducing SUP and consumer frustration. We studied the social practices of 20 adults using diary records and workshops over the course of two weeks. Our findings suggest that everyday practices shape SUP use, and reducing it disrupts daily life, even for eco-conscious consumers. Packaging-free shops are a popular approach to reducing SUP. However, consumers are hindered from using this alternative by limited availability, convenience and product variety. Future research should explore the seamless integration of alternatives to reduce SUP into everyday social practices.
Author: | Mubarik Kassim RabiuORCiD, Melanie Jaeger-ErbenORCiD |
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URL: | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344923004378 |
DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2023.107303 |
ISSN: | 0921-3449 |
Title of the source (English): | Resources, Conservation and Recycling |
Document Type: | Scientific journal article peer-reviewed |
Language: | English |
Year of publication: | 2024 |
Tag: | Consumption; Diary study; Everyday practices; Plastic avoidance; Reduce; Single-use plastic |
Volume/Year: | 200 |
EU-Project number / Contract (GA) number: | 859885 |
Article number: | 107303 |
Fundername (EU): | MSCA Horizon 2020 |
Way of publication: | Open Access |
Faculty/Chair: | Fakultät 5 Wirtschaft, Recht und Gesellschaft / FG Technik- und Umweltsoziologie |