Fasting plastic: an intervention study to break habits of plastic consumption (Ayuno de plástico: una intervención para cambiar los hábitos de consumo de plásticos)

Abstract

Addressing the prevalent topic of plastic pollution, an intervention to break people’s consumption patterns was implemented. It was investigated if Lent could work as a ‘window of opportunity’ of habit change, expecting people to be open to try new behaviour in this period. An online survey was conducted before, during and after Lent. 140 persons in three different intervention groups, including an invitation to the plastic challenge (baseline), information about problems (group I) and information about action steps (group II) participated by the end. Mixed ANOVA revealed a reduction of plastic consumption during Lent (d = 0.69). This effect was maintained even after Lent. Informational approaches showed no further effect. Path analysis revealed insights in antecedents of fasting behaviour and habit change. Intention, previous behaviour and moral norms were direct predictors of plastic reduction during Lent. In turn, people who reduced plastic consumption in this period continued it after Lent independent of other constructs. Implications of these results are discussed.