Survey reveals need for education, greater access to improve plastics recycling

Survey reveals need for education, greater access to improve plastics recycling
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Packaging provider Hi-Cone, Itasca, Illinois, has released its second annual State of Plastic Recycling report, revealing the need for ongoing education and greater access to programs and facilities.

The report was compiled using data from surveys conducted by the international research data and analytics firm YouGov that involved more than 5,000 adults in the United States, Mexico, Spain and the United Kingdom. Questions focused on responsents’ behaviors, knowledge and attitudes toward plastic packaging recycling and other circular economy aspects.

The need for ongoing education and greater access to programs and facilities emerged as central themes among those surveyed with fewer than one-third (31 percent) indicating confidence in understanding what the term "circular economy" means. Despite this lack of certainty, a majority of people indicated personal behaviors that aligned with the phrase’s objectives. More than half (61 percent) said they recycled three-quarters of their plastic waste. Across all geographies, the reported ratio of recycling participants to nonparticipants was 9 to 1. More than three-quarters (78 percent) of respondents indicated that increasing facilities and/or guidance would positively influence them to recycle plastic more frequently. These findings indicate the possibility for industry stakeholders to further educate and engage the public as well as the potential among consumers for increased participation.

In all four countries, respondents identified a key group of stakeholders—packaging manufacturers, consumer goods companies, government and consumers themselves—as being primarily responsible for providing effective plastic recycling resources and solutions. Consumers also indicated a shared responsibility among these core groups for expanding knowledge and influencing behavior toward achieving a circular economy.

In this second iteration of its report, the research was expanded to determine the public’s understanding of the term “circular economy” to better determine the public’s level of support for recycling; whether the public’s participation in recycling matches their intentions; which groups, institutions and agencies people look to for recycling solutions; and how these organizations can best direct their efforts to increase public engagement.

"Considerable progress has been made in minimizing plastic waste through a robust reuse and recycling infrastructure," says Shawn Welch, group president, packaging equipment and consumables platform, at Hi-Cone. "The information contained in this new report will help stakeholders further accelerate the transition from a traditional, linear economy, in which used products simply become waste, to a far more vibrant and sustainable circular economy."

In the area of sustainability, Hi-Cone says it has formed several cross-industry partnerships, including a recycling partnership with TerraCycle in the U.K., with Avangard Innovative in the U.S. and the launch of its 50 percent or more postconsumer-recycled-content product, RingCycles.

The 2021 State of Plastic Recycling report is available to read and download at https://hi-cone.com/sustainability. ]]>
Source: Recycling Today
Survey reveals need for education, greater access to improve plastics recycling
<![CDATA[Packaging provider Hi-Cone, Itasca, Illinois, has released its second annual State of Plastic Recycling report, revealing the need for ongoing education and greater access to programs and facilities.The report was compiled using data from surveys conducted by the international research data and analytics firm YouGov that involved more than 5,000 adults in the United States, Mexico, Spain and the United Kingdom. Questions focused on responsents’ behaviors, knowledge and attitudes toward plastic packaging recycling and other circular economy aspects.The need for ongoing education and greater access to programs and facilities emerged as central themes among those surveyed with fewer than one-third (31 percent) indicating confidence in understanding what the term "circular economy" means. Despite this lack of certainty, a majority of people indicated personal behaviors that aligned with the phrase’s objectives. More than half (61 percent) said they recycled three-quarters of their plastic waste. Across all geographies, the reported ratio of recycling participants to nonparticipants was 9 to 1. More than three-quarters (78 percent) of respondents indicated that increasing facilities and/or guidance would positively influence them to recycle plastic more frequently. These findings indicate the possibility for industry stakeholders to further educate and engage the public as well as the potential among consumers…