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Single-Use Plastic Bans: Exploring Stakeholder Perspectives on Best Practices for Reducing Plastic Pollution
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Stakeholder workshops in Norway and Slovenia identified single-use plastic bans as broadly supported but requiring better complementary policies including deposit return systems and product redesign requirements, with participants emphasizing that bans alone are insufficient without parallel infrastructure investments and behavior change programs.
In this study, we conducted and documented workshops and interviews in Norway and Slovenia to identify stakeholder and future generation opinions and mitigation strategies for solving one of the most prominent environmental issues: plastic pollution. As part of the EU H2020 project GoJelly, stakeholders were brought together to explore their perceptions on considering jellyfish mucus as a new resource to contribute to reducing plastic pollution from entering the marine environment. The study was conducted in the spring of 2019, in a context directly after the European Union (EU) announced its Directive to ban the most commonly used single-use plastic (SUP) items. The study applied the snowball method as a methodological choice to identify relevant stakeholders. Systems thinking was utilized as a participatory modelling approach, which allowed for the creation of conceptual mind maps from the various workshops and interviews, to understand consumers’ consciousness, and to map out ideas on plastic pollution reduction. Plastic pollution takes place on a global scale and stakeholders discussed their individual perceptions of national and international solutions that could be put in place to solve it, including the opportunities around utilizing jellyfish mucus to filter and capture micro- and nanoplastic. We found that industry stakeholders in both case areas were generally more accepting of policy and increased innovation moving forward, but placed weight on the scientific community to conduct more research on the pollution issue and propose solutions. Future generation stakeholders (youth aged 14–18), however, put emphasis on consumer behavior and buying patterns of single-use products fueling the plastic crisis.
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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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This review examined the effectiveness of single-use plastic bans as a policy tool for addressing plastic pollution, evaluating evidence on their environmental impact and discussing alternative regulatory approaches. The authors found that while bans have reduced certain plastic categories, broader systemic changes to plastic production and waste management are needed.
Public Perceptions of Single-use Plastic Bans in Rhode Island
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A survey of Rhode Island residents measured public attitudes toward proposed statewide bans on single-use plastics. Results showed general support for plastic reduction policies, which is relevant to policy makers designing legislative approaches to reduce ocean plastic inputs at the local level.
Single-use Plastic Ban and its Public Health Impacts: A Narrative Review
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This review examines global policies and bans on single-use plastics, finding that they have helped reduce plastic pollution in some regions. However, enforcement and public health impacts vary widely, and more consistent international policy is needed to effectively address plastic waste.
Preventing single-use plastic waste
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This policy chapter reviews strategies for preventing single-use plastic waste, covering bans, fees, deposit-return schemes, and extended producer responsibility programs. Single-use plastics account for approximately half of all plastic waste and are a major source of environmental microplastic contamination. The chapter evaluates the effectiveness and design of different policy instruments for reducing single-use plastic consumption.
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