Vol.:(0123456789) Discover Sustainability (2021) 2:13 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-021-00015-0 1 3 Discover Sustainability Review Efectiveness of intervention on behaviour change against use of non‑biodegradable plastic bags: a systematic review Gbadebo Collins Adeyanju 1,2  · Teslin Maria Augustine 3  · Stefan Volkmann 3  · Usman Adetunji Oyebamiji 3  · Sonia Ran 3  · Oluyomi A. Osobajo 4  · Afolabi Otitoju 5 Received: 6 January 2021 / Accepted: 5 February 2021 © The Author(s) 2021 OPEN Abstract The devastating impacts that bio-degradable products such as plastic bags are having on human health, wildlife, and the environment is enormous, especially single-use once. Single-use plastics are non-biodegradable products and does not undergo biological decomposition nor degenerate. This review examines various government regulations targeted at changing behaviour against plastic bags consumption and their efectiveness. Following a rigorous search in 13 data- bases, including PubMed, Science Direct, Springer Nature, etc. only 17 peer-reviewed journal articles that are published between 2000 and 2019 and met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Each study’s methodological quality was assessed using the GRADE system, and data were extracted using a uniquely designed form. The results revealed that regulations based solely on the thickness of plastic bags does not reduce plastic bags consumption. However, regu- lations focused on banning ‘single-use’ plastic bag usage, imposing higher taxes and levies on consumers, signifcantly reduce plastic bags consumption. Overall, the latter is considered the most efective. Also, the results show that attitude, perception and behaviour change toward bio-degradable products or climate-friendly behaviour can be signifcantly infuenced by public policy or regulations. Although the behaviour seems short-lived in some countries, therefore further studies need to probe on why. Also, the absence of a national regulatory strategy in North America reduced the inclusion of studies from the region, hence need for more research focusing on sub-national regulations. Keywords Plastic bags · Efectiveness · Intervention · Biodegradable products · Government regulations · Public policy · Behaviour change · Consumption 1 Background We are currently living in the “Plastic Age” [1]. As of 2015, approximately 6300 metric tons of plastic waste have been generated. Out of this, around 9% was recycled, 12% was incinerated, and 79% has accumulated in landflls or the natural environment [2]. Geyer et al. [2] argue that if current production and waste management trends continue, roughly 12,000 metric tons of plastic waste would be in landflls or the natural environment by 2050. Of plastic types, single-use plastic bags specifcally are the most ubiquitous. Often referred to as the world’s number one consumer product, single-use plastic, commonly used in business-to-consumer contexts, shopping bags are now among the world’s most banned * Gbadebo Collins Adeyanju, gbadebo.adeyanju@uni-erfurt.de | 1 Centre for Empirical Research in Economics and Behavioural Science (CEREB), University of Erfurt, Erfurt, Germany. 2 Media and Communication Science, University of Erfurt, Erfurt, Germany. 3 Willy Brandt School of Public Policy, University of Erfurt, Erfurt, Germany. 4 Aberdeen Business School, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK. 5 Africa Partners Initiative E.V. (API), Erfurt, Germany.