Bridging the Gap in UNEP’s Report: Nudges to Reduce Plastic Pollution
and Health Risks
Abstract
Plastic pollution is increasingly becoming a threatening problem
worldwide, with highlighted health risks associated with plastic waste
incineration. Among the immediate measures to address this problem,
proper recycling of PET bottles stands out as a pertinent strategy.
Considering the urgent need for administrative-led reforms, we assessed
the separation rates of PET bottle caps and labels in a government
office in Japan, which revealed a concerning fact; only 59.3% had both
caps and labels removed and properly separated. Thus, one potential
solution is the use of Nudges, which are effective methods for promoting
behaviors such as healthy actions. Since both health and environmentally
conscious behaviors involve choices across different time points,
leveraging insights from Nudges developed in the field of health
behavior to environmental behaviors are considered crucial even from a
health promotion perspective.