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The Identity of Recycled Plastics: A Vocabulary of Perception

Author

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  • Lore Veelaert

    (Department of Product Development, Faculty of Design Sciences, University of Antwerp, Ambtmanstraat 1, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium)

  • Els Du Bois

    (Department of Product Development, Faculty of Design Sciences, University of Antwerp, Ambtmanstraat 1, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium)

  • Ingrid Moons

    (Department of Product Development, Faculty of Design Sciences, University of Antwerp, Ambtmanstraat 1, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
    Department of Marketing, Faculty of Business Economics, University of Antwerp, Prinsstraat 13, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium)

  • Patrick De Pelsmacker

    (Department of Marketing, Faculty of Business Economics, University of Antwerp, Prinsstraat 13, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium)

  • Sara Hubo

    (Research Group CPMT, Department of Materials, Textiles and Chemical Engineering, University of Ghent, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 130, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium)

  • Kim Ragaert

    (Research Group CPMT, Department of Materials, Textiles and Chemical Engineering, University of Ghent, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 130, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium)

Abstract

As designing with recycled materials is becoming indispensable in the context of a circular economy, we argue that understanding how recycled plastics are perceived by stakeholders involved in the front end of the design process, is essential to achieve successful application in practice, beyond the current concept of surrogates according to industry. Based on existing frameworks, 34 experiential scales with semantic opposites were used to evaluate samples of three exemplary recycled plastics by two main industrial stakeholders: 30 material engineers and 30 designers. We describe four analyses: (i) defining experiential material characteristics, (ii) significant differences between the materials, (iii) level of agreement of respondents, and (iv) similarities and differences between designers and engineers. We conclude that the three materials have different perceptual profiles or identities that can initiate future idea generation for high-quality applications. The study illustrates the potential of this evaluation method. We propose that designers can facilitate the valorization and adoption of these undervalued recycled materials, first by industry and ultimately by consumers as well.

Suggested Citation

  • Lore Veelaert & Els Du Bois & Ingrid Moons & Patrick De Pelsmacker & Sara Hubo & Kim Ragaert, 2020. "The Identity of Recycled Plastics: A Vocabulary of Perception," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-27, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:5:p:1953-:d:328120
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marita Sauerwein , & Elvin Karana & Valentina Rognoli, 2017. "Revived Beauty: Research into Aesthetic Appreciation of Materials to Valorise Materials from Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-20, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Melissa Monika Wagner & Tincuta Heinzel, 2020. "Human Perceptions of Recycled Textiles and Circular Fashion: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-28, December.
    2. Ayah Alassali & Caterina Picuno & Zhi Kai Chong & Jinyang Guo & Roman Maletz & Kerstin Kuchta, 2021. "Towards Higher Quality of Recycled Plastics: Limitations from the Material’s Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-22, November.

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