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Need a bag? A review of public policies on plastic carrier bags – Where, how and to what effect?

Nielsen, Tobias Dan LU ; Holmberg, Karl LU orcid and Stripple, Johannes LU (2019) In Waste Management: international journal of integrated waste management, science and technology 87. p.428-440
Abstract

The plastic carrier bag epitomises many of the features that have transformed plastics into a material that defines our contemporary modern culture. The versatility, durability, strength and low cost have made it into an indispensable companion for consumers. In parallel with plastic becoming an increasingly contested material, the plastic carrier bag has emerged as a controversial object in many jurisdictions. This paper explores where, how and to what extent public authorities in different cases across the globe regulate plastic carrier bags. The number of public policies on plastic carrier bags has more than tripled since 2010, and they are now found on all continents, ranging from the municipal to the intergovernmental level. They... (More)

The plastic carrier bag epitomises many of the features that have transformed plastics into a material that defines our contemporary modern culture. The versatility, durability, strength and low cost have made it into an indispensable companion for consumers. In parallel with plastic becoming an increasingly contested material, the plastic carrier bag has emerged as a controversial object in many jurisdictions. This paper explores where, how and to what extent public authorities in different cases across the globe regulate plastic carrier bags. The number of public policies on plastic carrier bags has more than tripled since 2010, and they are now found on all continents, ranging from the municipal to the intergovernmental level. They mainly come in the form of either bans or levies, with the former being predominant. There have been many examples of policies leading to reduced consumption of plastic carrier bags, however this paper also identifies key challenges, including resistance towards plastic carrier bag regulations, uncertainty in measuring the effects, and the undesired side-effects. Far from being a simple issue, public policies on plastic carrier bags highlight the complexity of governing plastics.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Bans, Environmental governance, Levies, Plastic bags, Pollution, Public policy
in
Waste Management: international journal of integrated waste management, science and technology
volume
87
pages
13 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85061715925
  • pmid:31109543
ISSN
0956-053X
DOI
10.1016/j.wasman.2019.02.025
project
STEPS – Sustainable Plastics and Transition Pathways, Phase 1
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
1d61afec-c5cc-4bbf-9e82-9399bcda0f9d
date added to LUP
2019-02-25 11:35:24
date last changed
2024-04-16 01:01:15
@article{1d61afec-c5cc-4bbf-9e82-9399bcda0f9d,
  abstract     = {{<p>The plastic carrier bag epitomises many of the features that have transformed plastics into a material that defines our contemporary modern culture. The versatility, durability, strength and low cost have made it into an indispensable companion for consumers. In parallel with plastic becoming an increasingly contested material, the plastic carrier bag has emerged as a controversial object in many jurisdictions. This paper explores where, how and to what extent public authorities in different cases across the globe regulate plastic carrier bags. The number of public policies on plastic carrier bags has more than tripled since 2010, and they are now found on all continents, ranging from the municipal to the intergovernmental level. They mainly come in the form of either bans or levies, with the former being predominant. There have been many examples of policies leading to reduced consumption of plastic carrier bags, however this paper also identifies key challenges, including resistance towards plastic carrier bag regulations, uncertainty in measuring the effects, and the undesired side-effects. Far from being a simple issue, public policies on plastic carrier bags highlight the complexity of governing plastics.</p>}},
  author       = {{Nielsen, Tobias Dan and Holmberg, Karl and Stripple, Johannes}},
  issn         = {{0956-053X}},
  keywords     = {{Bans; Environmental governance; Levies; Plastic bags; Pollution; Public policy}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{428--440}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Waste Management: international journal of integrated waste management, science and technology}},
  title        = {{Need a bag? A review of public policies on plastic carrier bags – Where, how and to what effect?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2019.02.025}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.wasman.2019.02.025}},
  volume       = {{87}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}