Scientists discover plastic trash patches from the deep

I sacrificed my values ​​and bought plastic items. A lot, and the plastic I know is not recyclable in New York recycling (New York City) or maybe even anywhere … why would it go against something that I have actively prioritized and promoted?

Singer wrote that as the seriousness of COVID-19 dawned, he stocked up on items he would need if he were confined to his home for a long period, much of it packaged in plastic.

His confession summarizes how the pandemic has challenged those of us who are trying to reduce our waste. Many sustainability-conscious people can now find cupboards full of plastic bottles of hand sanitizer, disposable wipes, and take-out food containers.

So let’s see why this happens and what to do about it.

Sustainability through the window

We investigated how consumers respond to change, such as why consumers largely resisted single-use plastic bag bans. We recently explored how coronavirus has changed the use of plastic bags, containers, and other disposable products.

Amid understandable health and hygiene concerns during the pandemic, the problem of disposable plastics has been left in the background.

For example, Coles’ home delivery service is delivering items in plastic bags (even if they’re reusable) and many coffee shops have banned reusable cups, including Starbucks global branches.

Restaurants and other food companies can now only offer home delivery or takeout options. Many will not allow customers to bring their own containers, by default to disposables that generate plastic waste. This means that many consumers cannot reduce their plastic waste, even if they wanted to.

Demand for products such as disposable wipes, cleaning agents, hand sanitizers, gloves and disposable masks is at a record level. Unfortunately, they are also being dumped in unprecedented volumes.

And the imperative to prevent the spread of the coronavirus means that tons of medical waste are being generated. For example, hospitals and nursing homes have been advised to double-pack clinical waste from patients with COVID-19. While this is a necessary measure, it adds to the problem of plastic waste.

Cause of hope

Sustainability and recycling efforts continue. The Red Cycle soft plastics recycler is still working. However, many soft plastic delivery points, such as schools and council buildings, are closed, and some supermarkets have removed their return containers.

The Boomerang Alliance Plastic Free Places program released a guide for coffee shops and restaurants during COVID-19. It shows how to avoid single-use plastics and what compostable packaging alternatives are available.

As the guide points out, “next year the coronavirus will be a thing of the past, but plastic pollution will not be. It is important that we do not increase plastic waste and litter in the meantime.”

Old habits take time to die

In the United States, lobbyists in the plastics industry have taken advantage of health fears by arguing that single-use plastic bags are a more hygienic option than reusable ones. Since then, plastic bag bans have been reversed in the United States and elsewhere.

However, there is little evidence that plastic bags are a safer option, and at least reusable cloth bags can be washed.

A relaxation of plastic bag bans, albeit temporary, is likely to have long-term consequences for consumer behavior. Research shows that one of the biggest challenges in promoting sustainable behaviors is breaking old habits and adopting new ones. Once people return to using plastic bags, the practice normalizes again.

In Europe, the plastics industry is using the threat of coronavirus contamination to reject the ban on single-use plastics, such as food packaging and cutlery.

Such rethinking of plastic as a “protective” health material can divert attention from its dangers to the environment. Previous research, as well as our preliminary findings, suggest that these meanings are important when it comes to promoting environmentally friendly behaviors.

Many people are using their time at home to clean items they no longer need. However, most thrift and charity shops are closed, so items that might have had a second life end up in the landfill.

Similarly, many tool, book, and toy libraries are closed, meaning that some people will buy items that they would otherwise have borrowed.

What to do

We can expect the environmental cause to come to the fore when the COVID-19 crisis is over. In the meantime, reuse what you have and try to store instead of throwing away items to donate or recycle.

Talk to takeaways about options for using your own containers, and refuse cutlery or disposable napkins with deliveries. Take the time to improve your coffee at home instead of buying it in a takeaway cup. And look for grocery providers that offer more sustainable delivery packaging, like cardboard boxes or biodegradable bags.

Above all, be on the lookout for ways that environmental protections, such as plastic bag bans, can be undermined during the pandemic, and voice your concerns to politicians.

Daiane Scaraboto is an associate professor of marketing at the University of Melbourne.

Alison M. Joubert is a professor of marketing at the University of Queensland.

Claudia Gonzalez-Arcos is a professor of marketing at the University of Queensland.

Disclosure Statement: The authors do not work, consult, own shares, or receive funds from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Reprinted with permission from The Conversation.