Should I Reuse It or Throw It Out? Analysis of the Management of Household Plastic Waste by Brazilian Consumers during the COVID-19 Pandemic through Practice Lens

Aline Ribeiro Gomes, Jose Carlos Lazaro and Aurio Leocadio
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Aline Ribeiro Gomes: Department of Administration, School of Economics Business and Accounting, Faculty of Economics, Administration and Accounting, Butantã Campus, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-010, Brazil
Jose Carlos Lazaro: Postgraduation Program on Management and Controlling—PPAC, Faculty of Economics, Administration, and Accounting, Campus Benfica, Federal University of Ceará—UFC, Av. Da Universiade 2431, Benfica 60180-020, Brazil
Aurio Leocadio: Postgraduation Program on Management and Controlling—PPAC, Faculty of Economics, Administration, and Accounting, Campus Benfica, Federal University of Ceará—UFC, Av. Da Universiade 2431, Benfica 60180-020, Brazil

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 14, 1-12

Abstract: This study aims to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the reuse of plastic bags from supermarkets among Brazilian consumers through the lens of practices. This qualitative research took place through the collection of records in digital ‘solicited diaries’ with interviews, using autoethnographic field diaries. The analysis process of the collected data took place through content analysis as proposed by Bardin (2014). From the results obtained, there was a greater tendency to dispose of plastic supermarket packaging and different performances to maintain this practice. These new procedures involve an increase in the consumption of cleaning products, such as bleach and soap, the addition of alcohol in this disinfection routine, and an increase in water consumption, which signals major impacts on the environment through the use of a natural resource in danger of scarcity and the release of polluting substances. The changes underwent in the performances invariably culminate in environmental impacts, either on the disposal of the plastic bags or in their hygiene for later reuse. These results alert to the challenges that governments, institutions, and individuals will have to face in an attempt to reverse the damaging effects of the pandemic on sustainability goals. Also, it contributes to consumer behavior in crisis-context literature, just as concerning the waste household.

Keywords: plastic waste; COVID-19; sustainability; practice theories; consumer behavior (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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