IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i3p1852-d743277.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Public Perceptions of Legislative Action to Reduce Plastic Pollution: A Case Study of Atlantic Canada

Author

Listed:
  • Shen Molloy

    (School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada)

  • Andrew S. Medeiros

    (School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada)

  • Tony R. Walker

    (School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada)

  • Sarah J. Saunders

    (World Wildlife Fund Canada, Halifax, NS B3J 1P3, Canada)

Abstract

Government-led legislation is a key strategy to reduce plastic pollution; however, societal perception can heavily influence government intervention for environmental issues. To understand the public acceptability of government action to reduce plastic pollution, we examine the perception of existing and upcoming legislative action on single-use plastics (SUPs) by means of a structured survey with additional semi-structured interviews. Our focus is on the four Atlantic provinces of Canada, which was the first region in Canada to implement provincial-wide legislation for plastic reduction at the consumer level in 2019. Results show strong public support (77%, n = 838) for bans of SUP bags at the consumer level, and for further plastic pollution reduction legislation. However, the level of support differed between regions and by demographics. Semi-structured interviews show that decision makers should increase efforts in raising consumer awareness and standardizing regulations across jurisdictions for smoother transitions prior to legislative action.

Suggested Citation

  • Shen Molloy & Andrew S. Medeiros & Tony R. Walker & Sarah J. Saunders, 2022. "Public Perceptions of Legislative Action to Reduce Plastic Pollution: A Case Study of Atlantic Canada," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-24, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:3:p:1852-:d:743277
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/3/1852/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/3/1852/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Adeleke Oladapo Banwo & Jianguo Du, 2019. "Workplace pro-environmental behaviors in small and medium-sized enterprises: an employee level analysis," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 9(1), pages 1-20, December.
    2. Meyer, Andrew, 2015. "Does education increase pro-environmental behavior? Evidence from Europe," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 108-121.
    3. Aaron R. Brough & James E. B. Wilkie & Jingjing Ma & Mathew S. Isaac & David Gal, 2016. "Is Eco-Friendly Unmanly? The Green-Feminine Stereotype and Its Effect on Sustainable Consumption," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 43(4), pages 567-582.
    4. David M. Konisky & Jeffrey Milyo & Lilliard E. Richardson, 2008. "Environmental Policy Attitudes: Issues, Geographical Scale, and Political Trust," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 89(5), pages 1066-1085, December.
    5. Emma Marris, 2019. "Why young climate activists have captured the world’s attention," Nature, Nature, vol. 573(7775), pages 471-472, September.
    6. Doris Knoblauch & Linda Mederake & Ulf Stein, 2018. "Developing Countries in the Lead—What Drives the Diffusion of Plastic Bag Policies?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-24, June.
    7. Räty, R. & Carlsson-Kanyama, A., 2010. "Energy consumption by gender in some European countries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 646-649, January.
    8. Tony R. Walker & Eamonn McGuinty & Sylvain Charlebois & Janet Music, 2021. "Single-use plastic packaging in the Canadian food industry: consumer behavior and perceptions," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-11, December.
    9. Mohd Yusoff Yusliza & Amirudin Amirudin & Raden Aswin Rahadi & Nik Afzan Nik Sarah Athirah & Thurasamy Ramayah & Zikri Muhammad & Francesca Dal Mas & Maurizio Massaro & Jumadil Saputra & Safiek Mokhli, 2020. "An Investigation of Pro-Environmental Behaviour and Sustainable Development in Malaysia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-21, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Fabiula Danielli Bastos de Sousa, 2023. "Consumer Awareness of Plastic: an Overview of Different Research Areas," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 3(4), pages 2083-2107, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ya‐Ching Lee, 2020. "Communicating sustainable development: Effects of stakeholder‐centric perceived sustainability," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(4), pages 1540-1551, July.
    2. Berland, Ondine & Leroutier, Marion, 2025. "The gender gap in carbon footprints: determinants and implications," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 128512, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Martinsson, Johan & Lundqvist, Lennart J. & Sundström, Aksel, 2011. "Energy saving in Swedish households. The (relative) importance of environmental attitudes," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(9), pages 5182-5191, September.
    4. Ayodeji P. Ifegbesan & Isaac T. Rampedi & Biodun Ogunyemi & Lee-Ann Modley, 2022. "Predicting Pro-Environmental Behaviour amongst Citizens in African Countries: A Cross-National Study amongst Six African Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-18, July.
    5. Rice, Connor & Ragbir, Nadine K. & Rice, Stephen & Barcia, Gina, 2020. "Willingness to pay for sustainable aviation depends on ticket price, greenhouse gas reductions and gender," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    6. Osorio, Pilar & Tobarra, María-Ángeles & Tomás, Manuel, 2024. "Are there gender differences in household carbon footprints? Evidence from Spain," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 219(C).
    7. Alexandria M. Gain & Leonard V. Coote & André Bonfrer, 2024. "Conceptualising and measuring consumer perceptions of brand wastefulness," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 31(6), pages 557-575, November.
    8. Shan Jin & Yasuhiro Matsuoka & Meng Yue & Glyn Jones & Lynn J. Frewer, 2024. "Does information about environmental considerations affect Chinese and UK consumers’ purchase intentions for traced foods? A path analysis," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(12), pages 32287-32318, December.
    9. Sologon, Denisa M. & Doorley, Karina & O'Donoghue, Cathal & Peluso, Eugenio, 2024. "The Gendered Nature of the Cost-of-Living Crisis in Europe," IZA Discussion Papers 16820, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    10. Lisette Ibanez & Sébastien Roussel, 2022. "The impact of nature video exposure on pro-environmental behavior: An experimental investigation," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(11), pages 1-24, November.
    11. Daniel Baier & Theresa Maria Rausch & Timm F. Wagner, 2020. "The Drivers of Sustainable Apparel and Sportswear Consumption: A Segmented Kano Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-21, April.
    12. Coisnon, Thomas & Rousselière, Damien & Rousselière, Samira, 2018. "Information on biodiversity and environmental behaviors: a European study of individual and institutional drivers to adopt sustainable gardening practices," Working Papers 272611, Institut National de la recherche Agronomique (INRA), Departement Sciences Sociales, Agriculture et Alimentation, Espace et Environnement (SAE2).
    13. Kauder, Björn & Potrafke, Niklas & Ursprung, Heinrich, 2018. "Behavioral determinants of proclaimed support for environment protection policies," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 26-41.
    14. Yaofeng Yang & Yajuan Chen & Zhenrong Yu & Pengyao Li & Xuedong Li, 2020. "How Does Improve Farmers’ Attitudes toward Ecosystem Services to Support Sustainable Development of Agriculture? Based on Environmental Kuznets Curve Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-16, October.
    15. Priya, Pragati & Sharma, Chandan & Jha, Chandan Kumar, 2025. "Asymmetry in the inequality of opportunity in energy consumption across gender, caste, and religion in India," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    16. Gangga Muniandy & Marhana Mohamed Anuar & Bob Foster & Jumadil Saputra & Muhamad Deni Johansyah & Tran Tien Khoa & Zafar U. Ahmed, 2021. "Determinants of Sustainable Waste Management Behavior of Malaysian Academics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-14, April.
    17. Marini, Marco A. & Nocito, Samuel, 2025. "Climate activism favors pro-environmental consumption," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    18. David M. Konisky & Llewelyn Hughes & Charles H. Kaylor, 2016. "Extreme weather events and climate change concern," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 134(4), pages 533-547, February.
    19. Erda Wang & Nannan Kang, 2019. "Does life satisfaction matter for pro-environmental behavior? Empirical evidence from China General Social Survey," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 53(1), pages 449-469, January.
    20. Chambers, Catherine & Chambers, Paul & Johnson, David, 2025. "Charismatic species, matching, and demographics in conservation donations: An experimental investigation," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:3:p:1852-:d:743277. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.