Search

Abstract This paper examines the business impact of the legislation in England requiring retailers to charge consumers for single-use carrier bags. The legislation impacts three key stakeholders – Government, retailers, and consumers. The primary focus of this study is, however, from the perspective of retailers and how this group of stakeholders may have benefitted from the charge. Retailers are using the collected revenues to promote their image in the marketplace and presenting themselves as corporate social responsible entities. For retailers, the charge provides an avenue for bolstering their carbon footprint as consumers are expected to reuse their plastic bags – i.e. the "bag for life" as they now have to pay for them. At the same time, the proceeds are helping some retailers to top up their coffers which to some extent implies that there is some misuse or abuse of the policy by retailers. Highlights • The single-use carrier plastic bag levy in England provides an avenue for retailers to bolster their carbon footprint. • There is room for improvement in how the retailers can administer the levy. • Retailers have increased spending on thicker, reusable 'bags for life.' • Customers need to be educated in the usage of the 'bags for life.' • There is the risk that some retailers are using the concept to top up their coffers pointing to misuse or abuse of the levy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Plastic pollution is rampant in oceans across the globe. Our project in Indonesia seeks to understand and measure the effectiveness of non-monetary interventions that can help to reduce plastic bag consumption. A natural field experiment with 60 local shops was set up and three different persuasion strategies to measure shop owners’ likelihood to participate and sell them to customers were applied. In all treatment conditions the reusable bags were offered to the shop owners at a subsidized price along with explanations about the harm plastic bags do to the environment. Additionally and according to their randomly assigned treatment, they got either information activating a pro-environmental social norm (arguing that distributing the reusable bags helps support the wellbeing of their society); Indirect monetary incentive (arguing that their business can save money by reducing the amount of free plastic bags) or; authority endorsements (the head of the village showing his support of the idea to distribute the reusable bags). Our results support the conjecture that local leaders play an important role in the Indonesian context. Highlights • Local authorities are effective partners facilitating pro environmental behavior. • Natural field experiments allowed for a realistic testing of persuasion interventions. • Shop owners as target group to multiply effectiveness of interventions. • Evidence that more educated and more religious shop owners sold more reusable bags. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research evaluated the chemical, microbiological, and sensory quality preservation of raw peanuts packed in high barrier ethylene vinyl alcohol bags (EVOH) under vacuum and in polypropylene (PP) bags, during 720 days of storage at 10° (T10) and 25 °C (T25). Peroxides (PV) and conjugated dienes (CD) remained almost stable in EVOH at 10 °C (EVOH‐T10). The free fatty acid increase was greater in peanuts packaged in EVOH at 25 °C than at 10 °C. EVOH‐T10 presented the lowest saturated/unsaturated and oleic/linoleic ratios, and the highest iodine values. The lowest γ‐tocopherol decrease was for EVOH‐T10. Peanuts stored in PP bags at 25 °C (PP‐T25) showed the highest alkanes and the lowest decane,5,6‐bis(2,2‐dimethylpropylidene)‐,(E,Z)‐ content at the end of storage. PP‐T25 had the highest rate of roasted peanutty flavor decrease. Less than 10 CFU g−1 molds, yeasts, and aerobic mesophilic bacteria are detected for peanut samples, irrespective of packaging and storage temperature. Storage at 10 °C is associated with lesser quality deterioration than storage at 25 °C. All studied quality parameters are better preserved in raw peanuts packaged in EVOH except for free fatty acids. Practical Applications: Raw peanuts are used as primary ingredients which can be converted into value‐added products like peanut butter, peanut flour, peanut oil, snacks, and other by‐products. Nevertheless, preserving raw peanut quality has become a critical issue for peanut industry owing to peanut susceptibility to deterioration process. This research presents results about the chemical and sensory quality parameter changes of raw peanuts stored under different packaging materials and temperatures during a long‐term storage to figure out which are better conditions to preserve raw peanuts as a high‐quality product. Raw peanut quality preservation under a long‐term storage period packed in high barrier plastic bags (EVOH) under vacuum and polypropylene bags (PP) stored at refrigeration temperatures (T10) and room temperature (T25). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic bags are unusually comfortable solution for consumers (particularly if are free of charge) and constitute a sort of sign of time. However, they are also an enormous environmental challenge, because they become waste after a very short life cycle. In the world this problem had already been noticed some time ago and many states took action being aimed at limiting the use of disposable plastic carrier bags. In 2018 Poland, forced by notations of the EU directive, was also included in the group of these states. This article was devoted to discussion about a solution accepted in Poland and its contribution to the accomplishment of the concept of sustainable development. As the result of the study it can be stated that it is possible to limit the consumption of disposable plastic bags in Poland, however another fear is a fact that the first signals of the leakiness of the system and the possibility of avoiding the recycling fee already appeared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic material is made by collecting used plastic products (e.g., bottles and other plastic packaging materials) and reprocessing them into solid-state pellets or flakes. Plastic recycling has positive environmental benefits, but may also carry potential drawbacks due to unwanted organic and inorganic contaminants. These contaminants can migrate into food packaging made from these recycled plastic materials. The purpose of this research was to identify economically viable real-time monitoring technologies that can be used during the conversion of virgin and recycled resin feedstocks (i.e., various blends of virgin pellets and recycled solid-state pellet or mechanically ground flake) to final articles to ensure the safety, quality and sustainability of packaging feedstocks. Baseline analysis (validation) of real-time technologies was conducted using industry-standard practices for polymer analysis. The data yielded supervised predictive models developed by training sessions completed in a controlled laboratory setting. This technology can be employed to evaluate compliance and aid converters in commodity sourcing of resin without exceeding regulatory thresholds. Furthermore, this technology allowed for real-time decision and diversion strategies during the conversion of resin and flake to final articles or products to minimise the negative impact on human health and environmental exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A life cycle assessment (LCA) and cost analysis were conducted to compare the environmental and economic performance of nanocomposite polymers that use pristine and recycled high density polyethylene (HDPE) polymer with pristine, and pristine/recycled HDPE polymeric materials in drainage pipe. We evaluate three performance metrics; (a) non-renewable energy consumption (NRE); (b) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; and (c) production costs of the three pipe material alternatives. Original life cycle inventory data for the production of nanoclay from the mineral Montmorillonite were collected for this case study in the United States. Life cycle inventory models were developed for the cradle-to-gate production of drainage pipe used in highway construction that consider the sensitivity of model parameter inputs on the life cycle impact and cost results for the three material options. The GHG emissions for the nanoclay composite pipe are 54 % lower than those for pristine HDPE pipe, and 16 % lower than those for pristine/recycle HDPE pipe. With a slight difference in GHG emissions between the pristine/recycled and nanoclay composite, the production of nanoclay does not introduce a significant environmental burden to the pipe material. On average, the pristine HDPE pipe is 13 and 17 % higher in cost than the pristine/recycled HDPE and nanoclay composite pipes, respectively. Results of the LCA and cost analysis support using recycled HDPE as a substitute for pristine HDPE due to its low energy requirements and production costs. The uncertainty in GHG emissions of manufacturing pristine HDPE causes the largest variation of GHG emissions in nanoclay composite pipe (+3/−2 %). The production cost of the nanocomposite pipe is most influenced by the energy cost of PCR-HDPE (+25/−11 %). Our study suggests that a nanocomposite design that replaces part of the pristine HDPE with recycled HDPE and nanoclay reduces certain environmental risks and material cost of corrugated pipe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines consumer attitudes and behavior on the use of plastic and cloth bags in Eskişehir, Turkey. To this end, a structural equation model is proposed. Environmental consciousness regarding the use of plastic bags, social pressure, support for the banning of plastic bags, the intention to use cloth bags and behavior to reduce plastic bag use are employed as latent variables in the model. The intention to use cloth bags and the behavior to reduce the use of plastic bags are defined as endogenous latent variables in the structural model. In the conclusion of the study, it is identified that consumers who are environmentally conscious and feel under social pressure, tend to reduce the use of plastic bags and switch to using cloth bags. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of this study is to analyze the level of knowledge, awareness, and attitude toward plastic waste and to distinguish the key drivers that encourage the households in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to participate in 'No plastic campaign,' This study used the logistic regression model to explain the factors that may affect the willingness to participate (WTP) of households in the campaign. In this study, it is found that 35 % of households are willing to participate in the campaign. The results of the study also indicate that people who are more informed and more convinced of their knowledge have a more positive attitude toward recycling than their counterparts do. Furthermore, this study provides additional evidence of the level and classification of importance of motivating factors for plastic recycling, using the modified average and coefficient of variation of the models. From the analysis, the factor 'helps reduce landfill use' is found as the most important factor and the factor of 'raising money for charity' is found as the least important factor that motivates households to participate in recycling. The determinations of the study suggest some strategies that could hold implications for government and households to boost them to participate in the campaign 'No Plastic Bag.' [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents abstracts on patents issued for elastomers and plastics which include a bag from recycled plastic with top indicator invented by William H. Velke, a fibre reinforced plastic composite invented by Erik Grove-Nielsen and a plastic film stretching apparatus invented by Mikio Totani.

The article focuses on the efforts taken by the European government to reduce the use of plastic shopping bags. Topics discussed include a draft legislation passed by the European Parliament, described in the Auken report authored by Margrete Auken, Danish member of Parliament, environmental impact of plastic bags and commissioning of the Transfer Centre for Polymer Technology in Austria to investigate the impact of degradable and oxo-fragmentable plastic carrier bags on mechanical recycling.

Highlights: [•] This study implemented a field study to reduce free plastic bags at supermarkets. [•] The dual motivation model was examined with the intervention, which proposes that pro-environmental behaviors were determined by two motivations. [•] Voice prompt intervention induced context change and promotes pro-environmental behaviors. [•] A voice prompt can be introduced at a low cost, compared to other popular economical incentives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Whether to recycle the recyclable fraction in the MSW (municipal solid waste) or to incinerate it for energy recovery is a debating issue. In this paper we present a simple criterion to judge what type of waste components should be recycled or incinerated with energy recovery. According to the R1 formula presented by the waste framework directive (Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament), this paper calculates the energy performances of MSW waste-to-energy plants currently operated in Taiwan firstly. By using the assumed value of energy recovery efficiency and carbon emission costs, we compare the treatment methods between recycling (material recovery) and energy recovery by the cost and benefit analysis, and examine the suitability of recycling for waste fractions of paper, food waste, PET, PVC, and plastic bags/films under a variety of scenarios. The results show that food waste is more appropriate to be treated by recycling while plastic bags/films are suggested to be incinerated with energy recovery. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This contribution looks into the pro-recycling attitudes of the community of Didimoticho, a typical Greek provincial town; it further makes use of the insights gained in order to suggest how a recycling scheme could be designed so as to maximize public acceptance. Therefore, the factors that affect participation attitudes and the factors associated with recycling programme characteristics considered appropriate and convenient for the town in question were explored. This paper presents the results of a fully structured questionnaire filled in by 343 participants, all of them were town residents. Responses were given to research questions concerning particular components of implementation such as what materials the residents are willing to recycle; how many recycling bins or bags could be located at home; the type of collection of separated waste; what economic incentives should be imposed; how responsibility for the collection of recyclables should be shared among relevant agencies. Public participation in designing a recycling scheme has not been common practice so far. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article focuses on the sixth edition of a guide "Recyclability by Design" that offers guidelines for designing plastic packaging with recyclability.