Title: Ecological checkout: a sustainable initiative in Curitiba, Parana, Brazil

Authors: Dulce M. Albach, R.H.M. Godoi, Ana Flavia L. Godoi

Addresses: Graduate Program in Environmental Management, Positivo University, Curitiba-PR, 81280-330, Brazil. ' Environmental Engineering Department, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba-PR, 81531-990, Brazil. ' Environmental Engineering Department, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba-PR, 81531-990, Brazil

Abstract: Aiming to reduce environmental impacts caused by the inadequate disposal of packing residues, the |Ecological check-out| was created in a supermarket in Curitiba, Brazil. Consumers were encouraged to: voluntarily discard plastic and/or paper involucres immediately after their purchases anticipating the packing disposal; bring their own bags, looking for the minimisation of plastic bags| use. A questionnaire was applied among 350 costumers, whose majority chose the |Ecological check-out| as their first option. Nevertheless, interviews showed that social level or education degree were not automatically associated to consumer|s environmental conduct. In 52 days, 3212 packing units were discarded.

Keywords: packing residues; urban solid waste management; ecological checkout; recycling; sustainability; ecological consciousness; environmental impact; supermarkets; sustainable development; packaging disposal; environmental behaviour.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2010.029980

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2010 Vol.12 No.1, pp.56 - 66

Published online: 03 Dec 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article