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In 2017, global plastic production reached 348 million tonnes. Despite growing concerns about the environmental challenges associated with both plastic production and plastic waste, recent estimates suggest that plastic production and subsequent waste is expected to double by the year 2035 (European Commission, 2018). To help reduce the amount of plastic waste that litters the oceans and damages the environment, the European Union has recently commissioned a study about the feasibility of levying a tax on plastic products (New Economic Foundation for the Rethink Plastic Alliance, 2018). However, very few academic articles currently exist that critically examine the arguments for or against a plastic tax and thereby enlighten government and regulators on the subject. This chapter investigates whether plastic taxes can be used as an economic disincentive for plastic products and explores its advantages and disadvantages within a circular economy. It explores whether a plastic tax is the right economic instrument to limit the use of plastics, generate design and technical innovations for bio-based materials and degradable/recyclable plastics, create other economic incentives to optimize the value of plastic and its waste collection, and increase public awareness and responsibility. We find that a plastic tax may be a suitable solution as it is likely to influence the design, production, consumption, and waste sectors if designed properly. Yet, the tax should be carefully implemented and combined with other instruments to obtain the desired outcomes and reduce the occurrence of unfavorable side effects.

New mindsets and innovative thinking (ABIS, 2017; Moon, 2013, 2014, 2015; Moon, Walmsley, & Apostolopoulos, 2018) are needed to deliver on everything from good health and well-being to affordable and clean energy. This chapter reviews the latest trends globally to tackling pressing social and environmental problems (2016–2018), focuses on a sample of 100 projects, mapped against the UN SDGs and evaluated on their ‘innovation’ and scalability and selects 25 projects related to ‘circular economy’ solutions for a more in-depth consideration. The projects cover a range of applications including Buildings, Food, Energy, Transportation, Resources and Education. The key research question is: what strategic policy support is needed for enterprise & entrepreneurship education to develop the necessary multi collaborative and cross disciplinary mindsets and skills that such projects require? Reference is made to global risks and sustainability solutions, skills needed for the green economy and implications for enterprise development and entrepreneurship education. Findings reveal the need for new measures of eco and social mindset that will support the development of the creative and innovative solutions necessary for tackling the UN SDGs.

India generates a massive 9.4 million tonnes of plastic waste annually; out of which approximately 5.6 million tonnes go for recycling and 3.8 million tonnes are left uncollected or leaked from after-use collection systems. Reckless production and consumption of non-biodegradable plastic has serious implications, especially for developing nations where plastic use is predominant for fulfilling needs of increasing population and rapid urbanisation. Despite the harmful impacts of plastic, its desirability is inevitable due to its versatility. For the stringently growing economies, affordable and durable solutions will always be priorities over mindfulness. Imprudent plastic waste has precipitated the ban-change-collect challenge. Options like banning single use plastic (SUP), using alternative bio-benign products and improving waste collection systems are not proactively embraced by businesses and governments. Also, user-awareness and behaviour change for make-use-dispose is not instantaneous and easy. Optimistically, the government, NGOs and industry units have started exhibiting sensitivity to the cause and the emergence of start-ups is decentralising waste management in India. Inclusion of informal waste pickers in the formal waste management system has increased the reach and social impact of start-ups in India, imparting a distinctive and promising twist to the waste management sector. This chapter investigates the plastic waste management scenario in India through extensive literature review. It scrutinises the social aspects associated with the plastic waste management sector and attempts to comprehend connotations of ‘socially responsible plastic’ through semi-structured interviews with service providers in the sector. Thematic analysis was used to analyse interview data. The research indicated the initiation of systemic efforts towards formalisation of the sector. It emphasised the importance of role of waste pickers and their recognition as enablers of the system. Need of an ecosystem approach to nurture start-ups and facilitate better transparency and integration in the waste management system is also illustrated in this research.

This chapter focuses on discussing the Malaysian government's ‘No Plastic Bag Day’ campaign. This is due to the fact that consumers are accustomed to use plastic bag in their daily life activities. However, considering the hazardous impact on the environment, the government has banned the use of plastic bag in most of the states. While many consumers accepted this new rule whole-heartedly, many are still struggling to adopt it. This chapter highlights its journey of implementation and challenges pertaining to this sustainability marketing campaign in Malaysia.

Marketing Management, Consumer Behavior.

This case is suitable to be used in advanced undergraduate and MBA/MSc level.

This case highlights the initiative taken by Malaysian government in order to launch and implement “No Plastic Bag” campaign. The objective of this campaign is to discourage consumers from using plastic bags since plastic is not biodegradable and thus a big threat to the environment. As a result of this campaign, all supermarkets, hypermarkets, or department stores stopped providing plastic bags to the customers while shopping which was a usual practice before to carry the purchased stuffs. Consumers left with two options: either carrying their own bag during purchase or purchasing the plastic bag from the cashier for 20 sen. Azmir, the managing director of ForU hypermarket, was receiving several complaints from his customers since they need to pay for the plastic bag which made him ponder about how to make customers accept the “No Plastic Bag” policy wholeheartedly.

This case illustrates:

• The challenges faced by the Malaysian government in implementing “No Plastic Bag” campaign.

• The need for considering heavy promotional effort in creating awareness among citizens about green issues.

• The necessity to understand different mentality and behavioral pattern of consumers in embracing green consumption behavior.

The challenges faced by the Malaysian government in implementing “No Plastic Bag” campaign.

The need for considering heavy promotional effort in creating awareness among citizens about green issues.

The necessity to understand different mentality and behavioral pattern of consumers in embracing green consumption behavior.

This chapter introduces the subject matter of this book and clearly depicts the dichotomous nature of plastic: it is both problematic because of the pollution caused and beneficial because of the benefits it provides. This is set within the context of sustainability, being probably the key concern of the present. It highlights the volume on plastic in existent and the possible consequences from a lack of biodegradability. In doing so, it sets the context for the contents of the book.

The increasing accumulation of synthetic plastic waste in oceans and landfills, along with the depletion of non-renewable fossil-based resources, has sparked environmental concerns and prompted the search for environmentally friendly alternatives. Biodegradable plastics derived from lignocellulosic materials are emerging as substitutes for synthetic plastics, offering significant potential to reduce landfill stress and minimise environmental impacts. This study highlights a sustainable and cost-effective solution by utilising agricultural residues and invasive plant materials as carbon substrates for the production of biopolymers, particularly polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), through microbiological processes. Locally sourced residual materials were preferred to reduce transportation costs and ensure accessibility. The selection of suitable residue streams was based on various criteria, including strength properties, cellulose content, low ash and lignin content, affordability, non-toxicity, biocompatibility, shelf-life, mechanical and physical properties, short maturation period, antibacterial properties and compatibility with global food security. Life cycle assessments confirm that PHB dramatically lowers CO₂ emissions compared to traditional plastics, while the growing use of lignocellulosic biomass in biopolymeric applications offers renewable and readily available resources. Governments worldwide are increasingly inclined to develop comprehensive bioeconomy policies and specialised bioplastics initiatives, driven by customer acceptability and the rising demand for environmentally friendly solutions. The implications of climate change, price volatility in fossil materials, and the imperative to reduce dependence on fossil resources further contribute to the desirability of biopolymers. The study involves fermentation, turbidity measurements, extraction and purification of PHB, and the manufacturing and testing of composite biopolymers using various physical, mechanical and chemical tests.

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to synthesize modified thermoplastic sago starch (TPS) through in-situ mechanism by reacting sago starch with diphenylmethanediisocyanate (MDI) and castor oil simultaneously, resulting in a more homogenous and finer-sized polyurethane prepolymer (PUP).

Design/Methodology/Approach – The methods used were Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) for thermal characterization and stability of PUP, modified TPS non-extracted and extracted with toluene and water.

Findings – TGA test results presented shows that PUP begins to decompose thermally at a temperature of 300–500 °C. Weight loss occurs rapidly between these temperatures and is completely discharged at a temperature of 500°C, which is called weight loss transition.

Research Limitations/Implications – When extracted with toluene and a water solvent, the melting point and latent heat of fusion slightly decreased; however, it is still higher than the original value of sago. In terms of thermal stability, modified TPS decomposes and loses weight at 150–200 °C in small quantities, continues with weight loss rapidly, and is completely discharged at 500°C. The thermal stability is considered high; thus, modified TPS application can be varied.

Practical Implications – DSC analysis and TGA shows that modified TPS has good thermal characteristics and thermal stability. Modified TPS has a melting point of 104.69°C, and the latent heat of fusion (ΔH) is 234.27 J/g. This value is close to the PUP melting point and latent heat of fusion, which reveals the formation of cross-link between the starch and PUP.