Reducing plastic waste in the workplace: a program evaluation

IF 3.1 4区 管理学 Q2 BUSINESS
Alieena Mathew, Sebastian Isbanner, S. Rundle-Thiele
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Abstract

Purpose This study aims to develop a research agenda for the advancement of theory application in practical contexts by presenting a case study of the Engagement in Plastic-free Innovation for Change (EPIC) programme delivered by Plastic Oceans Australasia (POA). Design/methodology/approach EPIC is a behaviour change programme by POA that aims to reduce single-use plastic (SUP) consumption in workplaces. The study evaluates the programme’s impact on employee perceptions and actual behaviour through pre- and post-programme data collection in two Australian workplaces. Data was gathered via online surveys and waste audits and analysed using SPSS statistics and Excel. Findings The case study highlights the need for theory application in programme evaluation instruments. Theory was not used in the programme evaluation tool, and theory could not be mapped onto the tool retroactively. The data from the present study showed mixed results. Data from Workplaces 1 and 2 indicated that EPIC successfully improved three out of seven employee perceptions of SUP reduction efforts. However, individual workplace data showed that EPIC only improved one out of seven perceptions in Workplace 1 and three out of seven perceptions in Workplace 2. Surprisingly, Workplace 1 observed a decrease in plastic waste after the programme, while Workplace 2 saw an increase. Without the clear integration of theory, it is difficult to pinpoint areas for improvement. It is, however, posited that COVID-19 restrictions on people attending their workplaces and low survey response rates may have contributed to these unexpected results. Practical implications The present study highlights key improvements that can be made to evaluations of voluntary behaviour change programmes. Careful evaluation of behaviour change programmes is key to improving programme effectiveness. Practitioners will find the suggested improvements from this study helpful in developing and refining voluntary behaviour change programme evaluations. Originality/value This is one of the first studies to evaluate the impacts of a voluntary behaviour change programme aimed at reducing SUPs in the workplace. It also adds to the limited literature on voluntary behaviour change interventions overall and adds to the movement towards better application of theory in behaviour change interventions.
减少工作场所的塑料垃圾:项目评估
本研究旨在通过对澳大拉西亚塑料海洋组织(POA)实施的 "参与无塑创新促进变革(EPIC)"计划进行案例研究,制定在实际环境中推进理论应用的研究议程。本研究通过在澳大利亚两个工作场所收集计划前后的数据,评估该计划对员工观念和实际行为的影响。数据通过在线调查和废物审计收集,并使用 SPSS 统计和 Excel 进行分析。计划评估工具中没有使用理论,理论也无法追溯到工具中。本研究的数据显示了好坏参半的结果。1 号和 2 号工作场所的数据表明,EPIC 成功改善了七名员工中的三名对减少 SUP 工作的看法。然而,单个工作场所的数据显示,EPIC 只改善了工作场所 1 七种看法中的一种,以及工作场所 2 七种看法中的三种。令人惊讶的是,在计划实施后,工作场所 1 发现塑料垃圾有所减少,而工作场所 2 则有所增加。在没有明确理论结合的情况下,很难指出需要改进的地方。本研究强调了自愿行为改变计划评估中可以改进的主要方面。对行为改变计划进行仔细评估是提高计划有效性的关键。从业人员会发现,本研究中提出的改进建议有助于制定和完善自愿行为改变计划的评估。原创性/价值这是首批评估旨在减少工作场所 SUP 的自愿行为改变计划影响的研究之一。这项研究还对有关自愿行为改变干预措施的有限文献进行了补充,并推动了在行为改变干预措施中更好地应用理论的进程。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
4.60
自引率
29.20%
发文量
33
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