Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Approaching the New Plastic Economy: Solutions and Their Implications on Creating New Markets Around the Plastic Packaging Industry

Mannonen, Roosa LU (2019) SMMM20 20191
Department of Service Studies
Abstract
Background: Today, plastic packages can be found from the nature all around the world, hence it is a topic which is widely discussed among consumers, the media and politics, to name a few. Furthermore, solutions to the waste issue are pondered upon these different groups. The packaging industry constitutes for a large share of the total plastic waste, which is why the study was narrowed down to that specific industry. The aim of this study was to investigate recycling and alternative plastic materials as two possible solutions to decreasing plastic packaging waste and to investigate their potential relationship. In relation to the alternative plastic materials, potential ways to increase the growth of bioplastic market were also explored.... (More)
Background: Today, plastic packages can be found from the nature all around the world, hence it is a topic which is widely discussed among consumers, the media and politics, to name a few. Furthermore, solutions to the waste issue are pondered upon these different groups. The packaging industry constitutes for a large share of the total plastic waste, which is why the study was narrowed down to that specific industry. The aim of this study was to investigate recycling and alternative plastic materials as two possible solutions to decreasing plastic packaging waste and to investigate their potential relationship. In relation to the alternative plastic materials, potential ways to increase the growth of bioplastic market were also explored. Furthermore, the different variables in enabling change in waste reduction were investigated.
Methods: The conducted research investigated industrial perspectives through interviews. An understanding of how the public is perceiving the issue was also considered relevant information for people working in the plastic packaging industry, hence discourse analysis was conducted as a supporting method.
Results:
The empirical results indicated that developing recycling and alternative plastic materials should be considered together instead of as two separate methods. Furthermore, together or apart, both perspectives still need development. The key enablers in their improvement lie in the hands of consumers, companies and politicians and moreover in the creation of a market around them. The market must be framed with legislation and it needs more harmonisation through standardisation of packaging labels and clarification of material-related terminology. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Mannonen, Roosa LU
supervisor
organization
course
SMMM20 20191
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
plastic waste, bioplastics, alternative materials, recycling, plastic economy
language
English
id
8981025
date added to LUP
2020-11-20 11:09:05
date last changed
2020-11-20 11:09:05
@misc{8981025,
  abstract     = {{Background: Today, plastic packages can be found from the nature all around the world, hence it is a topic which is widely discussed among consumers, the media and politics, to name a few. Furthermore, solutions to the waste issue are pondered upon these different groups. The packaging industry constitutes for a large share of the total plastic waste, which is why the study was narrowed down to that specific industry. The aim of this study was to investigate recycling and alternative plastic materials as two possible solutions to decreasing plastic packaging waste and to investigate their potential relationship. In relation to the alternative plastic materials, potential ways to increase the growth of bioplastic market were also explored. Furthermore, the different variables in enabling change in waste reduction were investigated.
Methods: The conducted research investigated industrial perspectives through interviews. An understanding of how the public is perceiving the issue was also considered relevant information for people working in the plastic packaging industry, hence discourse analysis was conducted as a supporting method.
Results:
The empirical results indicated that developing recycling and alternative plastic materials should be considered together instead of as two separate methods. Furthermore, together or apart, both perspectives still need development. The key enablers in their improvement lie in the hands of consumers, companies and politicians and moreover in the creation of a market around them. The market must be framed with legislation and it needs more harmonisation through standardisation of packaging labels and clarification of material-related terminology.}},
  author       = {{Mannonen, Roosa}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Approaching the New Plastic Economy: Solutions and Their Implications on Creating New Markets Around the Plastic Packaging Industry}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}