This paper examines consumers' awareness and perceptions towards mobile phone recycling and re-use. The results are based on a survey conducted in the city of Oulu, Finland, and analysed in the theoretical framework based on the theories of planned behaviour (TPB) and value-belief-norm (VBN). The findings indicate that consumers' awareness of the importance and existence of waste recovery system is high; however, awareness has not translated to recycling behaviour. The survey reveals that 55% of respondents have two or more unused mobile phones at homes. The more phones stored at homes, the more often reasons 'I don't know where to return' and/or 'have not got to do it yet' were mentioned. This indicates that proximity and the convenience of current waste management system are inadequate in promoting the return of small waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). To facilitate re-use, and the highest level of recovery, consumers will need to be committed to return end-of-use electronics to WEEE collection centres without delays. Further, the supply and demand of refurbished mobile phones do not meet at this moment in Finland due to consumer's storing habits versus expectations of recent features under guarantee and unrealistic low prizes. The study also points out that, in order to change current storing habits of consumers, there is an explicit need for more information and awareness on mobile phone collection in Finland, especially on regarding retailers' take-back.

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Electronic devices and mobile applications have become a part of everyday life. Fast technological progress and rapid product obsolescence have led to the rapid growth of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Due to hazardous substances and also substantial amounts of valuable materials contained in electrical and electronic equipment, the European Union has implemented Directives related to WEEE, in order to reduce negative environmental and health impacts and to improve material recovery of valuable substances from WEEE. This paper provides an overview of the WEEE Directive and its implementation to national legislations in Finland, Sweden, and Norway and, further, describes how the nationwide WEEE recovery infrastructures in the Nordic countries have been built. The Nordic WEEE management systems are evaluated from the point of resource efficiency and best practices. Evidently, the WEEE management systems as established in the Nordic countries have advantages because the WEEE collection rates in 2012 were 12 kg/inhab./year, in Finland, 16 kg/inhab./year, in Sweden, and 27 kg/ inhab./year, in Norway, despite their sparsely populated nature. The Swedish and Norwegian experiences, especially, with long history of WEEE recovery indicate that increasing consumer awareness leads to more environmentally sound behaviour and improves recovery efficiency.

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21To attend the growing consumer demand for novel ready-to-eat fresh cut fruits packaging polylactic acid 22 (PLA)-based active packaging was realized. The aim of these packaging is to provide an improved 23 protection and even to extend their shelf-life. PLA-based active packaging was prepared by adding 24 nanoclays and surfactants in its formulation. The evaluation of PLA-nanocomposite packaging was done 25 in comparison to pristine PLA and conventional plastic (polyethylene terephthalate, PET) using fresh-26 cut melons. Physicochemical properties were investigated by the means of weight loss, visual 27 appearance, pH, colour, and firmness. In addition, microbial profile was tested via microbiological 28 assays. In order to evaluate the environmental impact of PLA-based active packaging compared to 29 commonly used PET, life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted. In terms of physicochemical and 30 antimicrobial properties, the results clearly showed that the presence of nanoclays and surfactants in the 31 PLA formulations improved their performance, thus contributing to bring the characteristic and 32 behaviour of PLA packages close to those of PET. Furthermore, assessment of life cycle environmental 33 impacts indicated that PLA packaging with nanoclays had the highest environmental performance. 34 35 Buckley et al. 2007).41Fresh-cut fruits respond to the demand for such healthy and easy products. Procedures such as cutting 42 and peeling expose the surface of the fruit to air and contaminants while also causing mechanical damage 43 to the cells which make the fruit more perishable (Ramos et al. 2013). As consumers tend to select fruit 44 products primarily based on their colour and appearance, fresh-cut fruits must indeed look fresh in order 45 to attract the attention of consumers (Barrett et al. 2010). Such delicate products require much from the 46 packaging. Studies conducted by Grönman et al. (2013) and Silvenius et al. (2014) have revealed that 47 the environmental impacts of the food are of a higher concern when compared to the product-packaging 48 system. Governments and customers have put much focus on the environmental impacts of the packaging 49 (Williams et al. 2008). 50Plastic production for packaging represents the largest application for plastic nowadays (Lagaron and 51 Lopez-Rubio 2010). In particular, petrochemical-based plastics have been increasingly used as packaging 52 materials because of their large availability at relatively low cost and because of their good mechanical 53