Testing the Hypothesis, pt. 2
Opportunity Recap:
As more local governments are implementing laws to phaseout or ban single-use plastics and polystyrene containers, businesses and individuals are having to find alternatives to these items.
Interview #1 (Owner of a Local Seafood Shop)
1. The owner of this shop was unaware that Alachua County was considering enforcing a ban, but had heard lots of information about the ordinance for the City of Gainesville.
2. He did not think that he will have a problem in regards to the polystyrene containers ban because one of the few exceptions to the ban is allowing these containers to be used for the packaging of meat products coming out of a butchery display. He also said that all of their prepared foods are already being sold in recyclable plastic containers and so they would not have to make a change there.
3. In regards to the single-use plastic bags, his main concern was with the sale of ice which has not been addressed under the ordinance but he believes will have to be when it becomes enforceable. In regards to the use of single-use plastic bags for transporting food products, he noted that many customers already choose to follow the "European-way" and simply carry the product in their hands. He also noted that his business tends to cater to a higher-income community and so if the ban does become enforceable, he does not foresee a problem in charging for a reusable carrying method in the future.
4. He did not have any immediate concerns for how this would effect his business but was concerned for how this would effect the lower-income communities in Gainesville who would have to face higher prices because of businesses being forced to use more expensive package.
Interview #2 (Late-Teens Female):
1. This individual was aware of the bans but had not put much thought into how they would affect her in her daily life.
2. She did not think that she would have a problem finding alternatives because she already does not use plastic straws and rarely goes to the grocery store.
3. She mostly uses grocery and food delivery services so she knows that an alternative will have to be found but does not think it will inconvenience her because someone else will have to find the alternative instead.
4. On the rare occasion that she does go shopping, she usually go with her parents and they will pay for whatever the alternative option will be to single-use plastics.
5. She expressed slight concern for others who may not be able to afford the luxuries she had but did not believe that it would effect the local economy as a whole.
Interview #3 (Owner of a Local Liquor Store):
1. This owner knew lots about the proposed bans and seemed to feel positively about the effect that they will have on the Gainesville community.
2. He thought that the problems would mostly fall with people who are frustrated by more liberal changes in the community but did not think that it would negatively impact his business.
3. He saw the ban as a possible challenge for managing costs but thought that it would be off-set by the free marketing that he would get from reusable bags. He also saw this as an opportunity to educate his customers about the importance of the change. He noted that his business was customer-service driven and so he does not want to add any inconvenience to their shopping experience. He said that his only problem relating to the ban was the internal conflict over whether or not they should charge for reusable bags.
4. He has already begun to purchase reusable bags and encourages his customers to do the same. This means that he will be less effected when the ban is actually initiated because there will be few changes that he will have to make at the time.
Interview #4 (Manager of the Gainesville location for a Eco-Friendly Grocery Store):
1. The manager was well-informed about the proposed bans and noted that a close friend was heavily involved in Zero Waste Gainesville, a community-led group focused on finding sustainable alternatives to wasted products.
2. She was unsure whether or not changes would be made at a store-level or regional-level in response to the ban. She said that most policy changes within the company are implemented at a regional level but because of the ban being localized, she thinks that it may be handled on a case-by-case basis.
3. She did not think that the store would have to make any specific changes in regards to the ban but hoped that it may encourage the company to finish getting rid of all plastic containers within the store. She believes that the company has never used single-use plastic bags and so that section of the ban would not effect them. She said that they have utilized paper bags for as long as she has worked within the company but hopes that they continue to push for more reusable options. She also stated that there are no polystyrene containers in the store as well. She said that their butchery department uses butchery paper and wraps the products rather than using polystyrene and plastic wrap.
4. This ban will not effect the location directly as they have already made all of the required changes, but the manager emphasized that she hopes it will encourage the store to continue to make eco-friendly changes and encourage other stores to do the same.
Interview #5 (Owner of a Local Sandwich Shop):
1. The owner did not know much about the proposed bans but thought that they were a good idea when I explained what they entailed.
2. He did not think that the ban would cause a problem for his store because they already do not use single-use plastic bags or polystyrene containers. Many of their customers eat in the shop and so they can use reusable plates and silverware sets. They also do not have to use these products for their take-out customers because their take-out menu consists of only an assortment of sandwich and sausages. This means that they can wrap all of their products in butcher paper and thus do not have to use polystyrene. Although it is not a specific element of the ban, the owner pointed out that they also do not have to provide single-use silverware because none of their take-out items require them. The owner also noted that most of their take-out customers are also only getting one or two meals so they do not need a bag to carry their items.
3. The owner discussed his concern with how the ban would effect his community but did not think that it would effect his restaurant. He is worried that it will effect many of the lower-income residents that live in his area because they will struggle to find affordable take-out options. He thinks that it will be good for his business because they will not be forced to raise prices but did seem to be genuinely concerned for the well-being of the community.
Summary of Interviews:
As more local governments are implementing laws to phaseout or ban single-use plastics and polystyrene containers, businesses and individuals are having to find alternatives to these items.
Interview #1 (Owner of a Local Seafood Shop)
1. The owner of this shop was unaware that Alachua County was considering enforcing a ban, but had heard lots of information about the ordinance for the City of Gainesville.
2. He did not think that he will have a problem in regards to the polystyrene containers ban because one of the few exceptions to the ban is allowing these containers to be used for the packaging of meat products coming out of a butchery display. He also said that all of their prepared foods are already being sold in recyclable plastic containers and so they would not have to make a change there.
3. In regards to the single-use plastic bags, his main concern was with the sale of ice which has not been addressed under the ordinance but he believes will have to be when it becomes enforceable. In regards to the use of single-use plastic bags for transporting food products, he noted that many customers already choose to follow the "European-way" and simply carry the product in their hands. He also noted that his business tends to cater to a higher-income community and so if the ban does become enforceable, he does not foresee a problem in charging for a reusable carrying method in the future.
4. He did not have any immediate concerns for how this would effect his business but was concerned for how this would effect the lower-income communities in Gainesville who would have to face higher prices because of businesses being forced to use more expensive package.
Interview #2 (Late-Teens Female):
1. This individual was aware of the bans but had not put much thought into how they would affect her in her daily life.
2. She did not think that she would have a problem finding alternatives because she already does not use plastic straws and rarely goes to the grocery store.
3. She mostly uses grocery and food delivery services so she knows that an alternative will have to be found but does not think it will inconvenience her because someone else will have to find the alternative instead.
4. On the rare occasion that she does go shopping, she usually go with her parents and they will pay for whatever the alternative option will be to single-use plastics.
5. She expressed slight concern for others who may not be able to afford the luxuries she had but did not believe that it would effect the local economy as a whole.
Interview #3 (Owner of a Local Liquor Store):
1. This owner knew lots about the proposed bans and seemed to feel positively about the effect that they will have on the Gainesville community.
2. He thought that the problems would mostly fall with people who are frustrated by more liberal changes in the community but did not think that it would negatively impact his business.
3. He saw the ban as a possible challenge for managing costs but thought that it would be off-set by the free marketing that he would get from reusable bags. He also saw this as an opportunity to educate his customers about the importance of the change. He noted that his business was customer-service driven and so he does not want to add any inconvenience to their shopping experience. He said that his only problem relating to the ban was the internal conflict over whether or not they should charge for reusable bags.
4. He has already begun to purchase reusable bags and encourages his customers to do the same. This means that he will be less effected when the ban is actually initiated because there will be few changes that he will have to make at the time.
Interview #4 (Manager of the Gainesville location for a Eco-Friendly Grocery Store):
1. The manager was well-informed about the proposed bans and noted that a close friend was heavily involved in Zero Waste Gainesville, a community-led group focused on finding sustainable alternatives to wasted products.
2. She was unsure whether or not changes would be made at a store-level or regional-level in response to the ban. She said that most policy changes within the company are implemented at a regional level but because of the ban being localized, she thinks that it may be handled on a case-by-case basis.
3. She did not think that the store would have to make any specific changes in regards to the ban but hoped that it may encourage the company to finish getting rid of all plastic containers within the store. She believes that the company has never used single-use plastic bags and so that section of the ban would not effect them. She said that they have utilized paper bags for as long as she has worked within the company but hopes that they continue to push for more reusable options. She also stated that there are no polystyrene containers in the store as well. She said that their butchery department uses butchery paper and wraps the products rather than using polystyrene and plastic wrap.
4. This ban will not effect the location directly as they have already made all of the required changes, but the manager emphasized that she hopes it will encourage the store to continue to make eco-friendly changes and encourage other stores to do the same.
Interview #5 (Owner of a Local Sandwich Shop):
1. The owner did not know much about the proposed bans but thought that they were a good idea when I explained what they entailed.
2. He did not think that the ban would cause a problem for his store because they already do not use single-use plastic bags or polystyrene containers. Many of their customers eat in the shop and so they can use reusable plates and silverware sets. They also do not have to use these products for their take-out customers because their take-out menu consists of only an assortment of sandwich and sausages. This means that they can wrap all of their products in butcher paper and thus do not have to use polystyrene. Although it is not a specific element of the ban, the owner pointed out that they also do not have to provide single-use silverware because none of their take-out items require them. The owner also noted that most of their take-out customers are also only getting one or two meals so they do not need a bag to carry their items.
3. The owner discussed his concern with how the ban would effect his community but did not think that it would effect his restaurant. He is worried that it will effect many of the lower-income residents that live in his area because they will struggle to find affordable take-out options. He thinks that it will be good for his business because they will not be forced to raise prices but did seem to be genuinely concerned for the well-being of the community.
Summary of Interviews:
| Inside the Boundary | Outside the Boundary | |
| Who Is… | People who shop, in person, for and businesses that sell groceries, clothing, or other goods; people who purchase and businesses that sell take-out food | |
| What Need Is… | The designing, manufacturing, and advertising of non-plastic totes, take-out containers, wrappers and other products to replace single-use items | Designing or marketing reusable bags to large businesses that must adhere to company policy; Selling products to already eco-friendly businesses that have already established relationships with other companies to provide them with non-plastic products and materials; Marketing reusable products to people who will not use them because they do not have a need to carry groceries or other products |
| Why the Need Exists… | Some people and business have already shifted to use eco-friendly options in their day to day lives/business and thus do not need to have somebody design or market these products to them |
Hi Alex,
ReplyDeleteI thought you did a great job picking a variety of people relevant to your topic for your interviews. I was surprised about the late-teens female who does not go to the grocery store. In bigger cities, I think there are more people who do not go to the grocery store very often and eat out instead. I also liked how you interviewed the owner of the seafood shop because he is one of the exceptions. I found it interesting how he was still in favor of the ban even though it did not affect him.
Hey Alex,
ReplyDeleteI think she did a great job coming up with people who are inside the boundary and outside a boundary. I like how you trying to do something for everybody and build your brand too. How to come up with something cool for everybody and I like the question you was asking the people. I like when one of the people said "Many of their customers eat in the shop and so they can use reusable plates and silverware sets. They also do not have to use these products for their take-out customers because their take-out menu consists of only an assortment of sandwich and sausages. This means that they can wrap all of their products in butcher paper and thus do not have to use polystyrene."