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Competing narratives inhibit a circular economy for bio‐based plastic packaging: Insights from a social innovation lab study in Brazil, Canada, Poland and the UK
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A social innovation lab study across Brazil, Canada, Poland, and the UK found that competing narratives and lack of end-of-life infrastructure are the primary barriers preventing bio-based compostable plastic packaging from achieving circular economy goals. Stakeholder interviews and workshops identified contamination in processing facilities, absent regulation, and greenwashing susceptibility as systemic obstacles requiring shared responsibility and simplified materials.
Abstract Businesses are turning to bio‐based, compostable plastic packaging as a circular economy solution to global plastic pollution. However, there is a lack of proper waste management systems for collection and processing. Through an international research initiative, a social innovation lab was undertaken in Brazil, Canada, Poland and the United Kingdom to understand and address key barriers in closing the bio‐based plastic packaging loop. Based upon a qualitative data set of 100 stakeholder interviews and three phases of workshop activities in each country, a grounded model was generated to illustrate how competing views and actions are inhibiting a circular system for bio‐based plastic packaging. Key issues were the lack of end‐of‐life processing infrastructure, contamination in processing facilities and absent or ineffective regulation. A systemic approach that includes shared responsibility for infrastructure, simplified packaging design and materials and equitable regulation to reduce susceptibility to greenwashing can improve collaboration to meet circular goals.
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