Psychology

Older person looking at refurbished bicycles
Older consumers outpace millennials in circular economy adoption

A comprehensive study by the British Standards Institution (BSI) has revealed that whilst 86 per cent of consumers support circular economy principles, significant quality concerns are preventing widespread adoption of reused, refurbished and recycled products.

Wastebuster campaign
Wastebuster: Behavioural psychology to support sustainable childhoods

Child development expert Amanda Gummer discusses Wastebuster’s use of behavioural psychology to influence children to live sustainably

Should you put tea bags in your food waste bin?
Should you put tea bags in your food waste bin?

As the industry continues to transition from plastics to bioplastics, the answer to whether or not tea bags can go in the food waste bin is not so simple

NLWA Waste Prevention Exchange to focus on Systems Thinking
NLWA Waste Prevention Exchange to focus on Systems Thinking
By
Resource
| 17 May 2023 |
NLWA conference delves into systems thinking as a tool for waste management
Person placing waste in bin
Behaviour Change becomes subsidiary of WRAP
By
Alice Lang
| 26 January 2022 |
The two organisations have partnered to develop public behaviour interventions
Sturdy plastic bakery delivery trays
Half of UK public aware of unnecessary plastic recycling, reveals research
By
Lidia Creech
| 24 March 2021 |
Baking equipment company Bakers Basco has led research into the public’s view on plastics recycling in the UK
Person using computer
Stockport Council to tackle digital exclusion with device loan scheme
By
Lidia Creech
| 3 February 2021 |
The Council is partnering with organisations Digiknow Alliance, Renewal North West and Amshire IT Support to bring free digital devices to digitally excluded citizens
Waste falling from conveyor belt at a recycling facility
£1.5 million university research project targets plastic waste streams
By
Lidia Creech
| 19 November 2020 |
The University of Manchester has been awarded funding by UKRI to simplify recycling methods and reduce plastic pollution
An image of food waste in a caddy
Food waste increasing as lockdown eases, WRAP reports
By
Lidia Creech
| 29 July 2020 |
Self-reported food waste has increased by 30 per cent as lockdown continues to ease in the UK, according to WRAP, which has launched a new campaign to encourage good food waste habits.
Black Friday has been condemned for promoting excessive consumerism
Make Friday Green Again – making Black Friday sustainable
By
Tansy Dando
| 29 November 2019 |
Annual November savings event, Black Friday, encourages excessive consumerism but this year organisations are promoting creative making, upcycling and repairing to bring communities together and reduce environmental damage.
Sadie Westwood, Business Director at 23red.
The recipe for success: The behavioural nudges needed to combat food waste
By
Sadie Westwood
| 17 October 2019 |
Sadie Westwood, Business Director at creative agency 23red, discusses how communications campaigns should make use of nudges and targeted messaging to encourage people to waste less food.
Local residents get involved in a beach clean in Snowdonia
Seeds of change: Zero waste communities in Wales
By
| 14 June 2019 |
As we journey toward zero waste, the challenge becomes more about capturing hearts and minds. Kate Dickinson talks to grassroots groups in Wales that have created a blueprint for others to follow.
Cover of 'Turning the Tide on Plastic' by Lucy Siegle
Review: Turning the Tide on Plastic
By
Andy Moore
| 10 January 2019 |
Andy Moore finds a lot to recommend in the new book by Lucy Siegle, ‘Turning the Tide on Plastic’.
It’s time to vote for your Legends of Waste in this year’s Hot 100!
It’s time to vote for your Legends of Waste in this year’s Hot 100!
By
Becky Goodall
| 20 December 2018 |
Who across the waste and resources world has done enough to etch their name into the pantheon of greats as this year’s Legend of Waste? You can tell us now by voting in this year’s Hot 100.
Keep Britain Tidy launches cigarette litter campaign
Keep Britain Tidy launches cigarette litter campaign
By
Kate Nicholson
| 30 August 2018 |
With the news that 39 per cent of smokers still put cigarette butts down the drain, Keep Britain Tidy has launched #BinTheButt to reduce litter and prevent the poisoning of marine life.
Future of Welsh circular economy to be discussed at Cardiff seminar
By
Gethin Roberts
| 18 July 2018 |
The seminar will focus on the next steps in Wales’ Towards Zero Waste strategy.
China and EU sign memorandum of understanding on circular economy
By
Gethin Roberts
| 17 July 2018 |
The world’s two largest economies transitioning to circular economy practices could accelerate the adoption of these practices on a global scale.
West Sussex Council to improve recycling in flats
By
Gethin Roberts
| 11 July 2018 |
Information packs and reusable bags will be provided to local residents in an effort to tackle low recycling rates from flats and communal accommodation.
Starbucks announces nationwide five pence coffee cup charge
By
Gethin Roberts
| 10 July 2018 |
The coffee chain will introduce a five pence paper cup charge across all 950 UK stores later this month to encourage the use of reusable cups.
Say no to plastic this World Environment Day
Say no to plastic this World Environment Day
By
Gethin Roberts
| 31 May 2018 |
On June 5 two campaigns are making high profile stands against plastic pollution in a bid to raise awareness and help change behaviours.
Survey reveals Britain still addicted to plastic
By
| 17 April 2018 |
The British public has not changed its behaviour towards single-use plastic, and action is needed to make tap water more accessible, says a report by YouGov for BRITA and Keep Britain Tidy.
Well-designed four-weekly collections can increase recycling and maintain service levels – CIWM
Four-weekly collections can increase recycling, says CIWM
By
Rob Cole
| 22 February 2018 |
CIWM has expressed its support for four-weekly collections of residual waste as long as schemes are well-designed and contain provisions such as the weekly separate collection of food waste.
Contamination in the USA
Contamination in the USA
By
Gareth Morton
| 20 February 2018 |
In the wake of China’s tighter import standards for recycling, the problem of contamination has been thrown into the spotlight. Gareth Morton discusses what the US is doing to tackle the issue – and what the UK can learn.