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 *
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