The message on the bottle: Rethinking plastic labelling to better encourage sustainable use

Burrows, Stephen D.; Ribeiro, Francisca; O�Brien, Stacey; Okoffo, Elvis; Toapanta, Tania; Charlton, Nathan; Kaserzon, Sarit; Lin, Chun Yin; Tang, Cheng; Rauert, Cassandra; Wang, Xianyu; Shimko, Katja; O�Brien, Jake; Townsend, Piers A.; Grayson, Matthew N.; Galloway, Tamara; Thomas, Kevin V.

Abstract

Plastic pollution continues to worsen globally in volume and complexity. The complexity in plastic production, use and disposal is significant, highlighting the importance of clear communication to consumers. Yet despite this, poor plastic labelling is clear, evident from poor waste management metrics even in the most equipped countries. Plastic labelling must change to contribute to a holistic intervention on global plastic mismanagement. Discussion on this topic leads to three key recommendations: 1. An accurate and clear “sustainability scale” to empower consumers to make decisions informed by environmental and human health implications; 2. Directions for appropriate disposal action in the region of purchase; 3. A comprehensive list of plastic composition, including additives.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 14, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Feb 24, 2022
• Publication Date: Feb 24, 2022
• Deposit Date: Sep 5, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 7, 2022
• Journal: Environmental Science and Policy
• Print ISSN: 1462-9011
• Electronic ISSN: 1873-6416
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 132
• Issue: June 2022
• Pages: 109-118
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2022.02.015
• Keywords: Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law; Geography, Planning and Development
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/9949147
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901122000600?via%3Dihub