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Avaliação da sensibilidade ambiental dos consumidores de produtos EPS e XPS em Portugal
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O crescimento da população mundial associado às elevadas taxas de consumo, têm contribuído para o aumento da quantidade de resíduos antropogénicos, em particular de plástico, causando uma séria ameaça para o meio ambiente. Dentro da categoria de resíduos de plástico, o poliestireno expandido (EPS) e o poliestireno extrudido (XPS) constituem um problema particularmente preocupante devido às grandes quantidades encontradas em meio marinho. De modo a compreender a recetividade de diversos setores de atividade e do público em geral à substituição e redução da utilização de produtos EPS e XPS, bem como à diminuição das suas perdas no meio ambiente, realizou-se um estudo com o objetivo principal de avaliar a viabilidade de produtores e utilizadores de EPS e XPS contribuírem para a sua redução no meio marinho. A recetividade de produtores e outros stakeholders para substituir, reduzir e/ou minimizar as perdas destes produtos no ambiente, foi avaliada através de várias sessões participativas desenvolvidas num workshop realizado no âmbito do Projeto Oceanwise. Os resultados destas sessões permitiram concluir que existe uma grande divergência de opiniões relativamente à mudança. A sensibilidade ambiental dos consumidores de produtos e a forma como a recolha de resíduos influencia o comportamento do público em geral, foi avaliada através da realização de um inquérito online que permitiu colmatar as lacunas de informação sobre a relação que o consumidor tem com o material poliestireno utilizado diariamente. Os participantes no inquérito foram na sua maioria, do sexo feminino (73%), entre os 31 a 55 anos com área de residência na região Centro, tendo cerca de 87% dos inquiridos classificado o sistema de recolha de resíduos entre “Suficiente” e “Muito bom”. Em relação às utilizações mais importantes das espumas, a maioria dos homens (32%) não associou o uso dos produtos de espuma às proteções para os eletrodomésticos. 68,5% dos inquiridos referiu que deposita os tabuleiros de espuma no contentor dos plásticos, enquanto que 30,7% admitiu depositá-los no contentor dos indiferenciados. Apesar da faixa etária dos inquiridos não ter efeito significativo na escolha de contentor, a região de residência apresentou um efeito significativo. O comportamento do público em geral foi, ainda, analisado à luz do sistema de recolha de resíduos instalado em Portugal, que foi compilado no âmbito deste trabalho, tendo-se concluído que o baixo investimento na manutenção da gestão de resíduos e na implementação de pontos de separação poderá justificar as diferenças de comportamento entre regiões. Com este trabalho, concluiu-se que é importante continuar com ações de educação e sensibilização sobre a importância da separação de resíduos e apoiar o desenvolvimento de produtos ecológicos para reduzir a quantidade de resíduos e as suas perdas para o meio ambiente.
The world population growth, associated with its consumption rate, has contributed to the increase in the amount of anthropogenic waste, particularly plastic, causing a serious threat to the environment. Within the category of plastic waste, expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) are a matter of concern due to the large quantities found in the marine environment. The advantages associated with its physical and chemical properties are a major drive for its use by the construction, automotive, food, health and electronic industries, among others. In order to understand the receptivity of producer, other stakeholders, and the general public, to the substitution and reduction of the use of EPS and XPS products, as well as to the reduction of their losses in the environment, we conducted this study. The main objective was, therefore, to assess the feasibility of producers and users of EPS and XPS to contribute to their reduction in the marine environment. The receptivity of producers and other stakeholders to change and replace these products, as well as to reduce and/or minimize their losses in the environment was assessed through several participatory sessions held during a workshop conducted within the frame of the Project Oceanwise. The results of these sessions led to the conclusion that there is a wide divergence of opinion on possible changes. The environmental sensitivity of consumers and the way waste collection influences the behaviour of the general public, was evaluated through an online survey that allowed to fill the information gaps on the relationship that the consumer has with the polystyrene material used daily. The participants in the survey were mostly women (73%), between 31 and 55 years of age, living in the Centro region, and about 87% of the respondents classified the waste collection system between “Sufficient” and “Very good”. Regarding the most important uses of foams, most men (32%) did not associate the use of foam products with protections for home appliances. Among respondents, 68.5% refer that they deposit the foam trays in the plastic container, while 30.7% admitted depositing them in the undifferentiated containers. Although the age range of the respondents did not have a significant effect on the selection of a container, the region of residence showed a significant effect. The behaviour of the general public was also analysed in the light of the waste collection system installed in Portugal, which was compiled in the scope of this work. The comparison suggested that the low investment in the maintenance of waste management and in the implementation of separation points may justify the differences in behaviour between regions. With this work, it was concluded that it is important to continue with education and awareness actions about the importance of waste separation and to support the development of ecological products to reduce the amount of waste and its losses to the environment.
The world population growth, associated with its consumption rate, has contributed to the increase in the amount of anthropogenic waste, particularly plastic, causing a serious threat to the environment. Within the category of plastic waste, expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) are a matter of concern due to the large quantities found in the marine environment. The advantages associated with its physical and chemical properties are a major drive for its use by the construction, automotive, food, health and electronic industries, among others. In order to understand the receptivity of producer, other stakeholders, and the general public, to the substitution and reduction of the use of EPS and XPS products, as well as to the reduction of their losses in the environment, we conducted this study. The main objective was, therefore, to assess the feasibility of producers and users of EPS and XPS to contribute to their reduction in the marine environment. The receptivity of producers and other stakeholders to change and replace these products, as well as to reduce and/or minimize their losses in the environment was assessed through several participatory sessions held during a workshop conducted within the frame of the Project Oceanwise. The results of these sessions led to the conclusion that there is a wide divergence of opinion on possible changes. The environmental sensitivity of consumers and the way waste collection influences the behaviour of the general public, was evaluated through an online survey that allowed to fill the information gaps on the relationship that the consumer has with the polystyrene material used daily. The participants in the survey were mostly women (73%), between 31 and 55 years of age, living in the Centro region, and about 87% of the respondents classified the waste collection system between “Sufficient” and “Very good”. Regarding the most important uses of foams, most men (32%) did not associate the use of foam products with protections for home appliances. Among respondents, 68.5% refer that they deposit the foam trays in the plastic container, while 30.7% admitted depositing them in the undifferentiated containers. Although the age range of the respondents did not have a significant effect on the selection of a container, the region of residence showed a significant effect. The behaviour of the general public was also analysed in the light of the waste collection system installed in Portugal, which was compiled in the scope of this work. The comparison suggested that the low investment in the maintenance of waste management and in the implementation of separation points may justify the differences in behaviour between regions. With this work, it was concluded that it is important to continue with education and awareness actions about the importance of waste separation and to support the development of ecological products to reduce the amount of waste and its losses to the environment.
Descrição
Relatório de estágio de mestrado, Ecologia e Gestão Ambiental, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2020
Palavras-chave
Lixo marinho Gestão de resíduos Poliestireno expandido Poliestireno Extrudido Detritos de plástico Relatórios de estágio de mestrado - 2020