xmlui.ArtifactBrowser.SimpleSearch.filter.source:Scientific papers of the University of Pardubice. Series A, Faculty of Chemical Technology. 26/2020
ISSN:1211-5541
Abstract:
One of the most significant environmental problems currently addressed is an effort to
reduce the volume of plastic used for packaging. Theoretically, the volume of plastic
packaging can be reduced in a number of ways, but not all of them are practically
applicable. So far, it is not yet clear which savings options for primary plastic packaging
are suitable for consumer chemicals (detergents, washing and sanitary products). This
article offers one of the possible approaches for such savings. It presents the results of
primary qualitative research whose main objective was to reveal innovations of primary
plastic packaging for consumer chemicals that would be feasible by the manufacturer
and, at the same, appreciated by customers. The research reported herein was carried
out in two consecutive stages. The first one was realized in a company which can be
considered a typical producer of consumer chemicala focused on the identification of
possibilities to save plastic waste from primary packaging from the manufacturer's point
of view. In this research, the method of semi-structured interview was used; the main
respondent being the process engineer of the company. The second stage was carried
out with final consumers with a focus on revealing the main environmental requirements
of the final customers for primary packaging for consumer chemicals. Data collection
at this stage of the research was carried out using the group discussion method. The
subsequent comparison of the results from both phases of the research enabled to
identify suitable environmental innovations of primary plastic packaging, as well as
barriers that will have to be overcome when implementing these innovations.
