Testing the Hypothesis, pt. 1

My Opportunity: As more local governments are implementing laws to phaseout and/or ban plastic items, such as plastic straws and single-use plastic bags, businesses and individuals are having to find alternatives to these plastic items that they have become accustomed to.

The Who: Businesses who provide single-use plastic items or individuals who utilize these items 

The What: They are having to find alternatives to items that they have been accustomed to

The Why: Governments are choosing to ban single-use plastics to help minimize the growing pollution problem that we are facing

Interview #1 Summary (Middle-Aged Female):

1. The increased number of bans will not be an inconvenience in my life because I already try to repurpose and re-use bags.

2. "It takes a village"- it is both the responsibility of businesses and consumers to help make the shift into a world without single-use plastics

3. Businesses should provide incentives for people to bring their own bags while the shift is occurring- maybe not require people to bring their own bags but make it more desirable. Businesses could also charge a small fee for providing a bag which would also encourage people to bring their own.

4. The economic burden of these bans will ultimately fall on the consumer because many businesses will be unwilling to face the cost that reusable bags will have on them. 

5. Some businesses like Aldi's do not provide bags for free now and they are successful, so it should not be a problem for other businesses to implement.

Interview #2 Summary (Retired Female): 

1. I do not think that these bans have been an inconvenience in my life yet but they probably will be in the future. 

2. I think that the ban will be beneficial because it is easier than retraining an entire population to be more environmentally friendly. 

3. "The trash in the ocean sickens me, we need to do something. People need to stop being inconsiderate."- Straws are not necessary and many other countries already require people to bring their own bags, so why do we not? 

4. Businesses will likely provide an alternative to single-use plastics to avoid upsetting their customers but will likely charge a small fee so that they do not have to eat the cost; Businesses should not be making a profit on reusable bags, but rather selling them for cost plus shipping.

5. Grocery stores will likely be unable to avoid providing an alternative to plastic bags because of their mass customer base but will have to face questions like whether or not food stamps should be able to be applied to the purchase of reusable bags. 

6. The bans will hurt small businesses the most

Interview #3 Summary (Late Teens Female): 

1. I do not think that the bans will add an inconvenience to my personal life but they will make my work life more difficult because I work in a restaurant that relies on "single use disposable everything"- without single-use plastics, the restaurant would have to completely change the way that it functions 

2. It is the consumers responsibility to provide an alternative to single-use plastics because businesses should not be expected to provide a product that will be used after their service is complete

3. I would be willing to pay a small price for reusable items while shopping or eating out because I think that businesses should not be expected to provide products that may be more costly than what they are already providing

4. Consumers will have to face the cost of these bans because many businesses will be unwilling to do so or will be unable to afford the cost burden 

Interview #4 Summary (Early 20s Female):

1. I do not think that these bans will inconvenience me because I already bring reusable bags when I am grocery shopping or buying things at the mall

2. It will likely affect people who live paycheck to paycheck the most because they are less likely to be willing to purchase a reusable bag or pay a fee for a paper bag

3. I think that most people in my community do not think that the ban will be a problem in their daily life but it is impossible to see all of the effects of this ban until it is actually implemented. 

4. It is the businesses responsibility to provide an alternative to single-use plastics because consumers may not have the funds to support sustainable practices- the government should offer tax breaks to businesses that are willing to engage in sustainable efforts and consumers should try to make an effort to support businesses that are more sustainable

5. I would be willing to pay for a reusable bag, but not a paper bag. Paper bags should be offered for free but businesses should provide incentives for people to bring their own reusable bags, such as how Starbucks provides the customer with a small discount when they bring their own cup. 

Interview #5 (Middle-Aged Male): 

1. I think that the bans will be inconvenient at first but I will quickly adjust to them. 

2. It is the consumers responsibility to provide an alternative to single-use plastics because most businesses will only provide an alternative if it is economically beneficial to them (like if they are given a substantial tax break for providing a sustainable alternative).

3. People and businesses that are lower on the economic scale will be most negatively affected by the bans because they will be losing more of their already small margins or spending freedom

4. Businesses that are already advertising as a sustainable or economically-friendly businesses will be more willing to eat the cost of providing sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics because it will appeal to their customer base. 

5. I would be willing to pay for a bag if I do not bring my own only if there is no free alternative (some businesses allow you to pack your items into old shipping crates for free). I would be more willing to purchase a reusable bag than a paper bag but believe that the businesses should not be profiting my decision to make this purchase because they are making my shopping experience more inconvenient. 

Assignment Summary:

Based on these interviews, I have realized that many people do not think that the ban will be inconvenient to them because they are willing to pay for another alternative or have already begun the transition into using reusable products such as cloth bags or metal straws. Some people said that it was the businesses responsibility to provide an alternative whereas others thought it was the consumers responsibility, but all 5 agreed that businesses would provide an alternative to single-use plastics but would likely charge a fee for them, which makes me think that businesses may be easier to sell reusable products to than the average consumer. From these interviews, I learned that more consumers than I thought were willing to pay for a sustainable alternative but they still believe that it is the businesses responsibility to provide them with the product to purchase.