Plastic Straws can be replaced by reusable metal ones, or done away with altogether.
Who:
It was difficult finding people, or any kind of common group of people, who are not effected by this opportunity. People who felt they did not have any need for reusable straws, or did not care to do away with plastic straws, typically were people who were either uneducated about the dangers plastic straws cause, or they simply do not value to environment or wildlife as highly as consumer comfort. The reasoning behind people not caring usually had to do with their core values or political beliefs/positioning.
What:
Some of the interviewees that did not know or did not care much about this opportunity questioned why the focus was on straws; why wasn't I interested in all sorts of plastic waste and pollution? In my opinion this is the clear split of this need compared to another. Plastic straws are not a completely necessary product, like some other plastic products, and it seems to be one of the easiest to eliminate, but still has one of the largest impacts on pollution.
Why:
I believe that the underlying need is not necessarily different. Many are simply unaware of how important of a need it is, and how dependent their future may be on this opportunity. Whether it was due to lack of knowledge, or not valuing the environment, it didn't seem that the need didn't exist, but rather non-supporters were simply unaware of the need and how important it is.
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Inside the Boundary
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Outside the Boundary
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Most consumers
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Uninformed consumers, anti-environmentalists
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To eliminate plastic straw waste
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Not trying to eliminate all plastic waste, or
increase metal straw waste
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Plastic straws are extremely damaging to the
environment
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These consumers need to be given more info and helped
to understand why this need affects them.
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Hi Steven,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this post of yours because I was interested to find out how you found people who were not affected by your issue. I totally agree with you that plastic straws seem to be the easiest and most convenient issue to tackle currently with regards to plastic pollution because like you said, they aren't necessary to do everyday things but they do contribute a great deal to the pollution issue.
Hey Steven,
ReplyDeleteGreat Post! I agree with your response to your interviewees question of your focus on straws. Plastic straws are not necessary in everyday life, and the shape of them is particularly harmful to aquatic life that are effected by plastic pollution in the oceans. They are an easy thing to eliminate and could begin a chain-reaction of cutting down overall plastic use. I also agree that it is an underlying need for everyone, whether they realize it or not. We all live on this one planet, so we are all effected.