Greater willingness to reduce microplastics consumption in Mexico than in Spain supports the importance of legislation on the use of plastics
IntroductionMicroplastics (MP) threaten all organisms worldwide. MP are produced directly as microbeads in cosmetics and hygiene products, or indirectly from breakage of larger plastics. The control of MP requires consumers' engagement to refuse products containing microbeads.MethodsWe conducte...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-01-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1027336/full |
| _version_ | 1797955762696224768 |
|---|---|
| author | Eva Garcia-Vazquez Eva Garcia-Vazquez Cristina Garcia-Ael Maritza Librada Caceres Mesa Noemi Rodriguez Eduardo Dopico |
| author_facet | Eva Garcia-Vazquez Eva Garcia-Vazquez Cristina Garcia-Ael Maritza Librada Caceres Mesa Noemi Rodriguez Eduardo Dopico |
| author_sort | Eva Garcia-Vazquez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionMicroplastics (MP) threaten all organisms worldwide. MP are produced directly as microbeads in cosmetics and hygiene products, or indirectly from breakage of larger plastics. The control of MP requires consumers' engagement to refuse products containing microbeads.MethodsWe conducted a survey on 572 university students from Mexico and Spain, two countries where microbeads are not banned yet. More strict laws for plastic control areenforced in Mexico than in Spain.ResultsControlling for age and education, despite knowing less about MP, Mexicans checked for microbeads on product labels more frequently than Spaniards, and desired to reduce MP consumption more. A stronger correlation between individual awareness and willingness of MP control was found for Mexican than for Spanish students.DiscussionPerhaps more strict legislation against plastics creates an environment favorable to MP control. Unclear statement of microbeads on labels was the main reason for not checking microbead contents; environmental education and a stricter control of plastics and MP were identified as necessary policy changes in the two countries. Corporation engagement on clearer product labeling is also suggested. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T23:38:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5271486b35de4431901278757cf067cc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T23:38:15Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-5271486b35de4431901278757cf067cc2023-01-11T14:41:47ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782023-01-011310.3389/fpsyg.2022.10273361027336Greater willingness to reduce microplastics consumption in Mexico than in Spain supports the importance of legislation on the use of plasticsEva Garcia-Vazquez0Eva Garcia-Vazquez1Cristina Garcia-Ael2Maritza Librada Caceres Mesa3Noemi Rodriguez4Eduardo Dopico5Department of Functional Biology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, SpainFaculty of Psychology, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia UNED, Madrid, SpainFaculty of Psychology, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia UNED, Madrid, SpainDepartment of Educational Sciences, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Pachuca, MexicoDepartment of Education Sciences, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, SpainDepartment of Education Sciences, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, SpainIntroductionMicroplastics (MP) threaten all organisms worldwide. MP are produced directly as microbeads in cosmetics and hygiene products, or indirectly from breakage of larger plastics. The control of MP requires consumers' engagement to refuse products containing microbeads.MethodsWe conducted a survey on 572 university students from Mexico and Spain, two countries where microbeads are not banned yet. More strict laws for plastic control areenforced in Mexico than in Spain.ResultsControlling for age and education, despite knowing less about MP, Mexicans checked for microbeads on product labels more frequently than Spaniards, and desired to reduce MP consumption more. A stronger correlation between individual awareness and willingness of MP control was found for Mexican than for Spanish students.DiscussionPerhaps more strict legislation against plastics creates an environment favorable to MP control. Unclear statement of microbeads on labels was the main reason for not checking microbead contents; environmental education and a stricter control of plastics and MP were identified as necessary policy changes in the two countries. Corporation engagement on clearer product labeling is also suggested.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1027336/fullconsumer awarenessMexicomicroplasticsSpainpro-environmental behaviormicroplastics risk awareness |
| spellingShingle | Eva Garcia-Vazquez Eva Garcia-Vazquez Cristina Garcia-Ael Maritza Librada Caceres Mesa Noemi Rodriguez Eduardo Dopico Greater willingness to reduce microplastics consumption in Mexico than in Spain supports the importance of legislation on the use of plastics Frontiers in Psychology consumer awareness Mexico microplastics Spain pro-environmental behavior microplastics risk awareness |
| title | Greater willingness to reduce microplastics consumption in Mexico than in Spain supports the importance of legislation on the use of plastics |
| title_full | Greater willingness to reduce microplastics consumption in Mexico than in Spain supports the importance of legislation on the use of plastics |
| title_fullStr | Greater willingness to reduce microplastics consumption in Mexico than in Spain supports the importance of legislation on the use of plastics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Greater willingness to reduce microplastics consumption in Mexico than in Spain supports the importance of legislation on the use of plastics |
| title_short | Greater willingness to reduce microplastics consumption in Mexico than in Spain supports the importance of legislation on the use of plastics |
| title_sort | greater willingness to reduce microplastics consumption in mexico than in spain supports the importance of legislation on the use of plastics |
| topic | consumer awareness Mexico microplastics Spain pro-environmental behavior microplastics risk awareness |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1027336/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT evagarciavazquez greaterwillingnesstoreducemicroplasticsconsumptioninmexicothaninspainsupportstheimportanceoflegislationontheuseofplastics AT evagarciavazquez greaterwillingnesstoreducemicroplasticsconsumptioninmexicothaninspainsupportstheimportanceoflegislationontheuseofplastics AT cristinagarciaael greaterwillingnesstoreducemicroplasticsconsumptioninmexicothaninspainsupportstheimportanceoflegislationontheuseofplastics AT maritzalibradacaceresmesa greaterwillingnesstoreducemicroplasticsconsumptioninmexicothaninspainsupportstheimportanceoflegislationontheuseofplastics AT noemirodriguez greaterwillingnesstoreducemicroplasticsconsumptioninmexicothaninspainsupportstheimportanceoflegislationontheuseofplastics AT eduardodopico greaterwillingnesstoreducemicroplasticsconsumptioninmexicothaninspainsupportstheimportanceoflegislationontheuseofplastics |