Plastics campaigns that work

Customising – The video reflected segmented and diverse audiences. Plus made a play on the ways that different people types would do the count.

Using Good Norms – As above. Also showing the number of people who have signed up to demonstrate that other people are doing it.

Specifying action – There is a clear and simple action to take- count plastic. Other plastic campaigns often tell people WHAT NOT to do or just talk about the problem.

Catalyzing commitments – There is a sign-up request.

Showing it matters – Emphasising how many people are taking action is one way the campaign does this. Plus in the video it says the findings will be used to lobby Governments.

However, it would be good to know more about the purpose of counting, and what will be done with the ‘evidence’ on the website and in social media. 

Altruism – Doing things for the ‘good of the planet’ or other people, is a common angle in plastics campaigns but one to be used with caution; as it doesn’t express ‘what’s in it for the individual’. 

Allowing distance –  An issue needs to feel local and happening now for action, so focusing on other countries is immobilising. The video for the Plastic Count is very much focused on the UK.
However, the headline image on the website looks like it is from a foreign country (probably where plastic waste is ending up). 

Reinforcing bad norms – Repeatedly ‘Campaigns that Work’ found campaigns focused on the scale of the problem and the actions that created the problem. This can actually have the effect of reinforcing undesirable behaviours.
We were concerned that the Big Plastic Count may have this impact, by focusing on the scale of the problem. So hearing from people who have changed their behaviours based on doing this activity would be good to counter it.

One of the ‘Behaviour Changemakers’ mentees is going to be running a local Big Plastics Count with her school and community, so we used this session to consider how she can make it more local, and emphasise how many local people are taking action. 

She highlighted how she taps into positive emotions, another element on the wheel, for her campaigns using the pride that the children feel if their class wins an environmental challenge.