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(Un)intended spillovers of green government policies: The case of plastic regulations
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This research examined microplastic contamination in deep-sea sediments from multiple ocean basins. Synthetic fibers were the predominant particle type in deep-sea samples, and higher concentrations were found beneath productive ocean areas with heavy surface shipping traffic, suggesting that both biological sinking and ocean circulation deliver microplastics to the deep sea.
Abstract Governments enact various regulations to decrease the use of plastic. This raises the question of whether the effectiveness of such measures is restricted to the realm of the plastic products being regulated, or whether and how it ‘spills over’ on to the use of other plastic products. Leveraging scanner and survey data across 22 countries, the authors show that a ban or a charge on plastic bags strengthens descriptive social norms to avoid plastic, which in turn curbs the purchasing and use of plastic bottles, as well as of other plastics. Yet there is also a dark side to charging consumers for plastic bags, as a negative cueing effect can lower concerns about plastic pollution and make consumers less vigilant about their use of other plastic products. Taken together, this research shows that government regulation aimed at changing small common behaviors potentially has a much larger impact via spillover effects.
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The Impact of Public Policy on the Circular Economy and Environmental Security
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This policy analysis examined whether bans on single-use plastic bags in Western European countries produced spillover effects on consumers' broader sustainable purchasing behaviors. Results indicated that such policies can positively influence environmental attitudes and purchasing decisions beyond the targeted plastic product.
Evaluating plastic bag levies: A systematic review of behavioural, regulatory, and normative pathways
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This systematic review following PRISMA 2020 guidelines evaluated the effectiveness of plastic bag levies and related interventions across 16 eligible studies. Findings showed economic instruments like levies produce the largest and most consistent reductions in plastic bag consumption, while multi-layered strategies combining charges with education and social norms offer the greatest long-term effectiveness.
Effectiveness of intervention on behaviour change against use of non-biodegradable plastic bags: a systematic review
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Researchers systematically reviewed government policies aimed at reducing single-use plastic bag consumption, finding that outright bans and higher consumer taxes are significantly more effective than regulations based only on bag thickness. The results show that well-designed public policy can shift consumer behavior toward more sustainable choices, though the behavioral changes can fade without ongoing reinforcement.
Breaking free from single-use plastics: The power of policy, social support, and culture
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Researchers applied an extended norm activation model to survey data from 545 Nigerians, finding that cultural practices, social support, and policy changes each independently shape personal norms and intentions to reduce single-use plastic food packaging — and that context-sensitive regulatory frameworks are essential for effective behavior change.
Some Countries Can Say “No!” to Single-Use Plastics, Others Cannot: Why Do Seemingly Similar Policies Have Different Outcomes?
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This paper analyzed plastic bag ban and levy outcomes across 12 countries, finding that retail sector engagement—rather than the specific policy instrument—was the strongest predictor of success. Countries that failed to involve major retailers, provide affordable alternatives, or implement deposit-return systems often saw limited reductions in single-use plastic consumption.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.