A crossroads for bioplastics: exploring product developers' challenges to move beyond petroleum-based plastics. (20th July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brockhaus, Sebastian; Petersen, Moritz; Kersten, Wolfgang
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 127(2016:Jul.)
• Page Start: 84
• Page End: 95
• Publication Date: 2016-07-20
• Subjects: Sustainability -- Bioplastics -- Theory of planned behavior -- Consumer goods -- Product development -- Behavioral research; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.04.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: Bioplastics play an increasingly important role for consumer products. These new materials might increase product sustainability but they are currently confined to niche markets. While research has gained important insight into the technical challenges, few studies to date explore the behavioral aspects for product developers as they move to employ bioplastics in their development efforts. This manuscript reports the findings of a grounded inductive study based on interview data with 32 product developers in the consumer goods industry. The Theory of Planned Behavior is employed to guide the research and provide a theoretical background to derive implications. The study finds that behavioral challenges impede the increased use of bioplastics. Product developers experience a lack of perceived behavioral control and struggle with doubts about the environmental benefits and incurring trade-offs of bioplastics with respect to the Triple Bottom Line. While product developers are intrinsically motivated to make more use of bioplastics, they often refrain from bringing products to the mass market due to uncertainties of customer receptiveness and fears of greenwashing allegations. Implications for industry and research are detailed. Highlights: Bioplastics are confined to niche markets and struggle to break the mainstream. Study based on interview data with 32 product developers of consumer goods. Product developers are intrinsically motivated to make more use of bioplastics. The Theory of Planned Behavior explains product developers' behavior. They often refrain from using bioplastics due to several behavioral roadblocks.