Plastic-free UCC: exploring societal and marketing levers

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dc.availability.bitstreamopenaccess
dc.contributor.advisorByrne, Edmonden
dc.contributor.advisorO'Neill, Claireen
dc.contributor.advisorDunphy, Niallen
dc.contributor.advisorMullally, Gerarden
dc.contributor.advisorKirrane, Mariaen
dc.contributor.authorHughes, Aoife
dc.contributor.funderUniversity College Corken
dc.date.accessioned2021-09-08T15:28:06Z
dc.date.available2021-09-08T15:28:06Z
dc.date.issued2020-12
dc.date.submitted2020-12
dc.description.abstractPlastic pollution is a visible symbol of the increasingly urgent environmental issues facing our world. Single-use plastic packaging comprises about half of plastic waste produced, much of which is used briefly before disposal (UNEP 2018). Meanwhile only approximately 9% of all plastic generated by 2015 were recycled (Geyer et al. 2017). Such figures highlight an entrenched and unhealthy reliance on single-use plastic (SUP) within the current dominant social paradigm which promotes unsustainable levels of growth in consumption and disposal. This research examines how sustainable practices can be facilitated and supported within University College Cork to transition away from SUP. This was done using a mixed method approach of surveys and interviews to examine how stakeholders and community members navigated sustainable behaviour and what barriers they encountered. The research highlights the persistence of cost, availability of alternatives, personal preferences and unsustainable defaults as barriers to sustainable consumption. Infrastructure also influenced behaviour with a lack of supporting infrastructure limiting the adoption of sustainable alternatives. The attitude-behaviour gap also emerged as a barrier to behaviour change re-affirming the need for systemic change rather than relying on individuals to drive changes. The research shows the importance of those in leadership roles prioritising sustainability and the importance of sustainable champions to drive middle-out change in behaviours and policies. Finally, the research highlights the need for stakeholder involvement and collaboration to sustain sustainability initiatives and for their feedback to be used to adapt initiatives.en
dc.description.statusNot peer revieweden
dc.description.versionAccepted Versionen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.citationHughes, A. 2020. Plastic-free UCC: exploring societal and marketing levers. MRes Thesis, University College Cork.en
dc.identifier.endpage244en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/11852
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherUniversity College Corken
dc.relation.projectUniversity College Cork (UCC Green Campus Living Laboratory Seed Fund)en
dc.rights© 2020, Aoife Hughes.en
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/en
dc.subjectSingle-use plasticen
dc.subjectSustainabilityen
dc.subjectHigher educationen
dc.subjectPlasticen
dc.titlePlastic-free UCC: exploring societal and marketing leversen
dc.typeMasters thesis (Research)en
dc.type.qualificationlevelMastersen
dc.type.qualificationnameMSc - Master of Scienceen
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