Eighteenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

While the use of traditional (fossil-based) plastics continues to be ubiquitous within modern day society, their use is recognised as a contributing factor to unsustainable patterns of production and consumption. In light of this, the current political agenda is seeking to address environmental and social impacts associated with the production, use and disposal of plastics. One approach being considered (for example in the European Green Deal) concerns the development of the bioeconomy, whereby traditional plastics are replaced with alternatives such as bio-based and/or biodegradable plastics. While this approach has been well received by industry, leading to the development and innovation of novel materials and products, successful uptake of alternative plastics ultimately depends on public acceptance and changes to consumer behaviour. In this study, an online survey was conducted to explore the attitudes and expectations of consumers from a wide cross-section of society regarding alternatives to fossil-based (conventional) plastics. This survey specifically sets out to clarify the level of confusion consumers currently feel with respect to terminology, to understand consumer confidence regarding appropriate waste management behaviours and to collect overall consumer expectations regarding the safety and technical performance of alternative plastics. Outcomes from the survey will be used to inform recommendations for industry, research, and policy to promote the uptake of alternative plastics in the future.