Impact of Information Intervention on the Recycling Behavior of Individuals with Different Value Orientations—An Experimental Study on Express Delivery Packaging Waste

Abstract

Changing residents’ recycling behavior at the source of waste generation is a fundamental way to solve the environmental and resource problems caused by express delivery packaging waste. Information intervention is a common means to help transform individual environmental protection behavior. In this study, behavioral experiments were used to examine the changes in individual express packaging waste recycling behaviors under the intervention of written and pictorial information. Differences in information processing and behavior decision-making among individuals (N = 660) categorized as self-interested, pro-relation, or pro-social were analyzed. Results showed that (1) recycling behavior is divided into persuasive, purchasing, disposal, and civil behavior. (2) Recycling behavior is differs significantly due to an individual’s education background, state of health, and interpersonal relationships. (3) Both written and pictorial information can positively change an individual’s recycling behavior, and their effectiveness is not significantly different. (4) Pictorial information has a stronger impact on purchasing behavior than written information. (5) Feedback from written information cannot effectively promote the overall recycling behavior of self-interested groups, but it can improve the overall recycling behavior of pro-relationship groups and pro-social groups. (6) Information intervention cannot effectively impact civil behavior, even among pro-social individuals. The research provides an important theoretical reference and practical basis for improving individual recycling behavior at its source.

Plastic habits – an overview for the collection ‘Plastics and Sustainable Earth’

“…The problems are further complicated by differences between people. In China, more educated people were less likely to recycle as they are not exposed to most of the pollution and do not see the urgent changes that are needed [41]. A result that is counter to what might be expected.…”

“…Consumption of Fast Fashion rates combined with low-quality products can result in a material, often synthetic and plastic-based, being adding to the waste stream [40]. The express delivery industry also contributes waste to the environment through its packaging [41].…”

“…A reliance on written or pictorial information is not enough to significantly change people's behavior around disposing of takeaway containers. Messages needed to include environmental and financial incentives in addition to the provision of alternatives, such as coffee cups to change people's use of disposable cups [41,43]. While changing people's behavior is complex, there are some changes that appear to be more readily acknowledged.…”

The Impact of Green Information on the Participation Intention of Consumers in Online Recycling: An Experimental Study

“…Information intervention could significantly influence recycling behavior [26]. As a kind of information intervention, green information refers to all typologies of environmental information that relate to e-waste recycling passed on to consumers [27].…”

“…As a kind of information intervention, green information refers to all typologies of environmental information that relate to e-waste recycling passed on to consumers [27]. Green information can be divided into written information and picture information based on its form, paper media information, and new media information according to the main body of communication, as well as product positioning, process positioning, image positioning, and environmental fact information based on content attributes [26,28,29]. Considering the particularity of the recycling situation, this study divides green information into two categories based on the information subject.…”