Papers

61,005 results
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Systematic Review Tier 1

“From Gamers into Environmental Citizens”: A Systematic Literature Review of Empirical Research on Behavior Change Games for Environmental Citizenship

This systematic review of 15 years of empirical research found that behavior change games can promote pro-environmental attitudes and knowledge, though evidence for lasting behavioral change remains limited. The findings are relevant to microplastic reduction efforts because they suggest that gamified interventions may raise awareness about plastic pollution but need stronger design to drive sustained reductions in plastic consumption.

2023 Multimodal Technologies and Interaction 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Promoting Sustainable Behavior Using Serious Games: SeAdventure for Ocean Literacy

This study evaluated a serious video game called SeAdventure designed to improve ocean literacy and promote sustainable behavior around marine plastic pollution. Results indicated that game-based education can effectively increase environmental awareness and motivation for pro-ocean actions among players.

2020 IEEE Access 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Designing Educational Game to Increase Environmental Awareness

Researchers designed an educational video game to raise environmental awareness about plastic waste and ocean pollution in Indonesian students. The game showed measurable improvements in environmental knowledge and pro-environmental attitudes among players.

2021 International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET) 21 citations
Article Tier 2

«Let’s Go Deep into the Game to Save Our Planet!» How an Immersive and Educational Video Game Reduces Psychological Distance and Raises Awareness

Researchers found that an immersive educational video game about plastic pollution effectively reduced psychological distance and increased awareness among players, suggesting that interactive media can be a powerful tool for environmental education beyond traditional climate change messaging.

2022 Sustainability 27 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Surveys of Knowledge and Awareness of Plastic Pollution and Risk Reduction Behavior in the General Population: A Systematic Review

This systematic review examines public surveys about plastic pollution awareness and whether that knowledge leads people to change their behavior. Understanding what people know and do about plastic pollution is important because individual actions, like reducing single-use plastic, can meaningfully lower microplastic exposure for both people and the environment.

2025 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Designing and Developing Digital Computer Game of Plastic Waste Awareness for Young Children

Researchers designed a digital educational computer game to raise plastic waste awareness among young children, using character-driven gameplay to teach waste management behaviors. The game was developed through iterative visual design and tested for its ability to engage children and build positive attitudes toward reducing plastic pollution.

2024 Journal of Games Game Art and Gamification
Article Tier 2

Addressing the single-use plastic proliferation problem

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.

2022 8 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Application of gamification in Early Childhood Education and Primary Education: thematic analysis

This systematic review of 24 studies found that gamification in early childhood and primary education improved academic skills, collaboration, and student motivation across subjects. This study is not related to microplastics or environmental health but was included in the dataset due to its classification as a systematic review.

2023 Retos 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Educational games about the environment: The microplastics escape game OCEAN EYE

Researchers developed and evaluated the OCEAN EYE microplastics escape game as an educational intervention targeting awareness and pro-environmental behavior among Austrian participants aged 15 and older, designing an evaluation framework to measure feasibility, willingness to act against microplastic pollution, and overall player experience.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

A Study On Creating Awareness Of Plastic Usage To Promote Sustainable Practices For A Greener Future

This study examines educational interventions and awareness campaigns aimed at reducing plastic consumption and promoting sustainable practices, evaluating their effectiveness in shifting public attitudes and behaviors toward a lower-plastic future.

2025 International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research
Article Tier 2

Mobile Augmented Reality Games Towards Smart Learning City Environments: Learning About Sustainability

This study explored how mobile augmented reality games can teach sustainability concepts, including environmental pollution from plastics, within smart city learning environments. Students who played location-based AR games showed increased awareness of environmental protection and sustainability issues. The research suggests that gamified learning tools could be effective at raising public awareness about environmental challenges including plastic pollution.

2025 Computers 5 citations
Article Tier 2

"value of Amobile Game-based App Towards Education for Sustainability"

This paper describes the EduPARK mobile app, which uses game-based learning to promote sustainability education in park environments. The tool encourages students to explore local ecosystems and learn environmental concepts through interactive play. Apps like this can build long-term pro-environmental attitudes that may reduce plastic waste behavior.

2023
Review Tier 2

From Awareness to Action: A Critical Review of Public Knowledge and Behavioral Gaps in Addressing Plastic Pollution

This review examined why public awareness of plastic pollution has not translated into meaningful behavior change. Researchers found that most people focus on visible plastic items like bottles and bags but have limited knowledge about microplastics from clothing or tires. Key barriers to action include convenience, cost, social norms, and distrust in recycling systems, suggesting that education alone is insufficient without strategies targeting specific behavioral changes.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Review Tier 2

From Awareness to Action: A Critical Review of Public Knowledge and Behavioral Gaps in Addressing Plastic Pollution

This review examined why high public awareness of plastic pollution has not led to meaningful action. Researchers found that people tend to focus on visible pollution like bottles and bags while overlooking less obvious sources such as microplastics from clothing and tires. The study concludes that bridging the awareness-to-action gap requires strategies that address specific behavioral barriers including convenience, cost, and distrust in recycling systems.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Systematic Review Tier 1

Environmental Impact of Plastic Waste: Strategies for Sustainable Management

This systematic review summarizes the environmental and health impacts of plastic waste and evaluates strategies for sustainable management. It highlights that plastic pollution threatens ecosystems and human health through microplastic contamination, and examines approaches like recycling, biodegradable alternatives, and policy interventions to reduce exposure.

2025 International Journal of Integrative Studies (IJIS)
Review Tier 2

From Awareness to Action: A Critical Review of Public Knowledge and Behavioral Gaps in Addressing Plastic Pollution

This review examined why public awareness of plastic pollution has not translated into meaningful behavioral change. The study found that most people focus on visible plastic waste like bottles and bags but have limited understanding of sources like microplastics from clothing and tires, with key barriers to action including convenience, cost, social norms, and distrust in recycling systems.

2026 International Journal of Science and Research Archive
Article Tier 2

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices toward Plastic Pollution among Malaysians: Implications for Minimizing Plastic Use and Pollution

Researchers surveyed Malaysians about their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding plastic pollution. The study found that while most people were aware of plastic pollution problems, there was a significant gap between awareness and actual behavior change. The findings suggest that education campaigns alone are insufficient and need to be paired with practical infrastructure and policy changes to reduce plastic use.

2023 Sustainability 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Game Save The Sea! as an Education Media to Prevent Water Pollution

An educational video game designed to teach players about water pollution—including plastic waste—was tested with Indonesian students. The game successfully increased environmental awareness and behavioral intentions around waste disposal.

2021 Journal of Business and Technology 2 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

A systematic literature review of voluntary behaviour change approaches in single use plastic reduction

This systematic review examines efforts to voluntarily reduce single-use plastic consumption through behavior change rather than legislation. The research finds that while government bans on plastics are effective, voluntary approaches that respect individual choice can also make a difference. Understanding what motivates people to reduce plastic use is key to tackling the microplastic pollution problem at its source.

2023 Journal of Environmental Management 28 citations
Article Tier 2

A Change of Mind: Applying Social and Behavioral Research Methods to the Assessment of the Effectiveness of Ocean Literacy Initiatives

This paper reviews how social and behavioral science methods can be used to measure whether ocean literacy programs actually change people's environmental behaviors. Better evaluation tools are needed to determine if public education about plastic pollution leads to real reductions in plastic use.

2019 Frontiers in Marine Science 58 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

A Systematic Review on Knowledge, Attitude and Practices towards Single-Use Plastic

This systematic review examines what people know and think about single-use plastics and whether that knowledge changes their behavior. Understanding public attitudes toward disposable plastic is important because single-use items are a primary source of the plastic waste that breaks down into the microplastics now found in human blood, organs, and food.

2022 Journal of Materials in Life Sciences (JOMALISC) 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Mobile Augmented Reality Games Towards Smart Learning City Environments: Learning Sustainability with the [Project’s Name] App

This study evaluated mobile augmented reality games as educational tools for teaching sustainability competencies in a smart learning city context, with one module addressing plastic pollution and microplastic awareness among urban residents and students.

2025 Preprints.org 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Disruptive Communication as a Means to Engage Children in Solving Environmental Challenges: A Case Study on Plastic Pollution

This paper presents a case study using disruptive communication strategies to engage children in addressing plastic pollution through an interactive campaign. The study found that participatory, child-centered approaches were effective at building environmental awareness and motivating behavior change around plastic use. Engaging young people in plastic pollution solutions is important for long-term reduction in the plastic waste that generates microplastics.

2021 Frontiers in Psychology 14 citations
Review Tier 2

Attitudes towards Plastic Pollution: A Review and Mitigations beyond Circular Economy

This review examined attitudes of consumers, industries, and governments toward plastic pollution, identifying behavioral barriers and synthesizing mitigation strategies that go beyond circular economy frameworks to address systemic plastic over-consumption.

2023 Waste 22 citations