Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

409 Chapter 15: Circular Economy and Waste Transition to a circular economy and its associated behavioural change will require action from all sectors of society. Positive practices and behaviours will need to be promoted while “bad habits” – built up over many years – will need to be discouraged or prohibited. (DECC, 2020) It is clear that engaging the public and businesses to take action to support the implementation of a circular economy in Ireland requires insights and evidence to understand behaviours, knowledge and attitudes. Behavioural insights studies can inform evidence-based communication campaigns about waste and the circular economy and can inform policy. Figure 15.5 sets out a sample of the EPA’s work seeking insights into consumer waste management behaviour. Figure 15.5  Findings of EPA-commissioned consumer surveys on circular economy behaviour Plastics a There is a high level of confidence in knowing what plastic waste goes into each bin; however, when tested, there was some confusion among consumers about how to correctly segregate certain plastic wastes Textiles c Only 31% of people see a clear link between the consumption of textiles and climate; 27% of people surveyed buy clothes they never wear. This proportion is higher for high-frequency purchasers with 46% of them buying clothes they never wear Repair d Percentages of the population who have bought or received: • at least one second-hand item of clothing in the last 12 months – 38% • electronic equipment – 16% • furniture – 23% • second-hand construction materials – 2% Food waste b Lack of planning is one of the key generators of home food waste – this finding informed subsequent Stop Food Waste communications campaigns Sources: a www.epa.ie/publications/circular-economy/resources/plastics-attitudes-and-behaviours-in-ireland-2019---2021 (accessed 24 June 2024). b www.epa.ie/publications/circular-economy/resources/food-waste-attitudes-and-behaviours-in-ireland-2021 (accessed 24 June 2024). c www.epa.ie/our-services/monitoring--assessment/circular-economy/textiles-national-attitudes--behaviours-surveys/textiles-national- attitudes--behaviours-survey-2021/#d.en.102826 (accessed 28 June 2024). d www.epa.ie/publications/circular-economy/resources/EPA-Repair-National-Survey-2022-The-Repair-Economy.pdf (accessed 24 June 2024).