title: Consumer preferences for reduced packaging under economic instruments and recycling policy.
abstract: This study was conducted using a web-based survey and bidding game in contingent valuation method to evaluate consumer preferences for packaging with less material. Results revealed that people who live in a municipality implementing unit-based pricing of waste have a higher willingness-to-pay (WTP) for a product. Economic instruments can affect the purchase of products with reduced packaging because a higher disposal cost increases the attractiveness of source reduction. However, unit-based pricing combined with plastic separation for recycling reduces WTP. This result suggests that recycling policy weakens the effect of economic instruments on source reduction of waste.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Okayama University, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan. Electronic address: yamaguchi@e.okayama-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University, Japan. Electronic address: takeuchi@econ.kobe-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002947:Cities; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018803:Models, Economic; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010969:Plastics; D057766:Policy; D011336:Probability; D019064:Product Packaging; D059027:Recycling / Q000191:economics*; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics
keywords: Contingent valuation; Less packaging; Unit-based pricing; Willingness-to-pay