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The human dimension: how social and behavioural research methods can help address microplastics in the environment
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This paper outlines how social and behavioral science research methods — including surveys, interviews, and behavioral experiments — can be applied to understand human dimensions of the microplastic pollution problem. Addressing plastic pollution requires not just environmental science but also understanding why people produce, use, and dispose of plastics as they do.
The present paper illustrates the breadth of research methods in the Social and Behavioural Sciences and how these may be applied to the issue of environmental microplastics.
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Next steps for research on society and microplastics
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This perspective paper outlined priority directions for social and behavioral science research on microplastics, building on the established contributions of social sciences to understanding policy, stakeholder views, and public behavior around plastic pollution. The authors called for greater integration of social science methods to address governance gaps and support effective microplastic management.
Next steps for research on society and microplastics
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This perspective paper assessed the contributions of social and behavioral sciences to microplastics research, covering policy analysis, public education, and stakeholder engagement. The authors argue for greater integration of social science methods to understand and reduce plastic pollution at the human systems level.
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A review of psychosocial drivers of marine plastic pollution found that factors including consumer convenience preferences, low perceived personal responsibility, and weak norm activation explain why behavioral change around plastic use is slow, and that interventions combining social norms messaging with structural changes show the most promise.
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Researchers designed a survey study using informational nudges and message framing to assess how consumers respond to sustainable laundry products that reduce microfiber emissions, aiming to identify behavioral interventions that can increase adoption of washing bags, filters, and laundry balls to reduce a major source of marine microplastic pollution.
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This study investigated the psychosocial factors that influence corporate willingness to take responsibility for reducing microplastic emissions, drawing on behavioral science to understand why companies act — or fail to act — on plastic pollution. Key factors identified included perceived social norms, corporate identity, and regulatory pressure. The study suggests that combining public pressure, industry benchmarking, and regulatory frameworks could be effective in motivating corporate behavior change around microplastic pollution.
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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.