Despite international efforts to foster the circular economy, plastic waste remains a major environmental problem. In the circular economy, the success of a waste management system depends, inter alia, on consumers properly sorting their plastic waste. Yet mis-sorting of plastic food packaging waste happens routinely. We sought to find out why and to outline the ways consumers prefer to receive information about waste sorting procedures. Tailoring information to consumer preferences can improve the effectiveness of waste management policy. Using the Motivation Opportunity Ability (MOA) framework to explain consumer behaviour, we conducted focus group discussions in two German cities. Our findings suggest that more accurate information and financial incentives best motivate consumers to sort waste correctly. Uncertainty and confusion over the packaging material are the most severe hindrances to correct sorting behaviour. The Internet and social media are preferred most for acquiring information on how to sort plastic food packaging correctly. Policymakers can use our results to adjust packaging and waste management regulations to help eliminate confusion among consumers and to facilitate their recycling intentions. Food industry practitioners and company decision makers can use our results to adjust their plastic packaging features to better match consumer preferences for easily recyclable waste.

中文翻译：

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塑料食品包装废物分类行为的见解：针对德国消费者的焦点小组研究

尽管国际社会努力促进循环经济，但塑料废物仍然是一个主要的环境问题。在循环经济中，废物管理系统的成功尤其取决于消费者对塑料废物的正确分类。然而，塑料食品包装废弃物的错误分类却时常发生。我们试图找出原因并概述消费者更喜欢接收有关垃圾分类程序的信息的方式。根据消费者偏好定制信息可以提高废物管理政策的有效性。我们使用动机机会能力 (MOA) 框架来解释消费者行为，在德国的两个城市进行了焦点小组讨论。我们的研究结果表明，更准确的信息和经济激励措施最能激励消费者正确分类垃圾。包装材料的不确定性和混乱是正确分类行为的最严重障碍。互联网和社交媒体是获取如何正确分类塑料食品包装信息的首选。政策制定者可以利用我们的研究结果来调整包装和废物管理法规，以帮助消除消费者的困惑并促进他们的回收意图。食品行业从业者和公司决策者可以利用我们的研究结果来调整其塑料包装特性，以更好地满足消费者对易于回收废物的偏好。