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“Bad rebounds” and the Environment: Bottled water and plastic collection behavior using cross-sectional Italian data

Author

Listed:
  • D'Amato, Alessio
  • De Simone, Marco
  • Dileo, Ivano
  • Marzano, Elisabetta

Abstract

The multidimensional nature of environmental problems is increasingly recognized, as different relevant behaviors may be mutually reinforcing or in a trade-off relationship. This is particularly relevant when the use of resources is tightly linked to their packaging, as in the case of bottled water consumption. This paper aims at using Italian data to assess whether plastic related separated collection and bottled water consumption are complements or substitutes in consumers’ behaviors. Using Cross-sectional Italian data, we provide evidence of a challenging “rebound” effect: individuals more engaged in recycling are also those producing more plastic waste related to bottled water consumption. This has important consequences for policy analysis, since the rebound effect appears to be related to the availability of waste infrastructures: better infrastructure, namely door to door collection, inflate the consumption of (plastic packaged) bottled water. We also provide robustness analysis for our results, specifically addressing the role of endogeneity issues.

Suggested Citation

  • D'Amato, Alessio & De Simone, Marco & Dileo, Ivano & Marzano, Elisabetta, 2025. "“Bad rebounds” and the Environment: Bottled water and plastic collection behavior using cross-sectional Italian data," MPRA Paper 125184, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:125184
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Caroline Orset & Nicolas Barret & Aurélien Lemaire, 2017. "How consumers of plastic water bottles are responding to environmental policies?," Post-Print hal-01500900, HAL.
    3. Paul W. Ballantine & Lucie K. Ozanne & Rachel Bayfield, 2019. "Why Buy Free? Exploring Perceptions of Bottled Water Consumption and Its Environmental Consequences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-11, February.
    4. Kenneth Gillingham & David Rapson & Gernot Wagner, 2016. "The Rebound Effect and Energy Efficiency Policy," Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 10(1), pages 68-88.
    5. Andreoni, James, 1990. "Impure Altruism and Donations to Public Goods: A Theory of Warm-Glow Giving?," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 100(401), pages 464-477, June.
    6. D'Amato, Alessio & Mancinelli, Susanna & Zoli, Mariangela, 2016. "Complementarity vs substitutability in waste management behaviors," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 84-94.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • Q25 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Water
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling

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