When Information Interventions are not Enough: Experimental Evidence for Sustainable Takeout and Delivery Packaging in Honduras

Abstract

Plastic pollution from takeout and delivery food packaging is a growing concern, especially in low- and middle-income countries with weak waste management infrastructure and single-use plastics policy. Using a novel metric developed for this research project, this study evaluated the impact of an information intervention on the sustainability of takeout and delivery packaging in Honduran restaurants. In an exploratory randomized controlled trial, managers were offered a 12-hour online course, with packaging sustainability measured before and after. Sustainability decreased in both the control and treatment groups, with no significant treatment effects.