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HOW SHOULD PLASTIC RECYCLATES LOOK LIKE TO BE PERCEIVED AS SUSTAINABLE: A FIRST EXPLORATION

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 July 2021

Els Du Bois ,
Lore Veelaert ,
Emiel Tormans  and
Ingrid Moons
Els Du Bois*
Affiliation:
University of Antwerp, faculty of Design Sciences, department of Product Development
Lore Veelaert
Affiliation:
University of Antwerp, faculty of Design Sciences, department of Product Development
Emiel Tormans
Affiliation:
University of Antwerp, faculty of Design Sciences, department of Product Development
Ingrid Moons
Affiliation:
University of Antwerp, faculty of Design Sciences, department of Product Development University of Antwerp, faculty of Business Economics, department of Marketing
*
Du Bois, Els, University of Antwerp, Product Development, Belgium, els.dubois@uantwerpen.be

Abstract

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Notwithstanding the positive environmental impact of recycled plastics, they are only scarcely used in new designs due to unfamiliarity and lack of material identities. This research aims to touch upon the sensorial attributes that characterise the sustainable perception of recycled plastics. Understanding this would allow to respond to the new trend of sustainable living by offering recycled materials that are successfully perceived as sustainable, and that could support the identity building of each specific recycled plastic material. Three research activities were executed to explore (i) the designerly understanding of sustainable perceived plastics; (ii) the consumer understanding of sensorial material attributes that influence the sustainable perception; (iii) the understanding of these attributes towards recycled plastic materials. Five variables were found that interfere with the perception of the participants: A weaker colour intensity, the use of colourless colours, a rougher texture, a speckled structure and the usage of a matte gloss can give a sustainable look towards a sustainable plastic material. Further research should detail these variables, its limitations and try to make defined guidelines to avoid greenwashing.

Keywords

EcodesignEmotional designSustainabilityMaterial perceptionRecycled plastics
Type
Article
Information
Proceedings of the Design Society , Volume 1: ICED21 , August 2021 , pp. 1765 - 1774
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BYCreative Common License - NCCreative Common License - ND
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
Copyright
The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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