1. PEFKIOS GEORGIADES PRIMARY SCHOOL ANTONIA ANTONIOU LITSA MIKKELIDES

2. METHODOLOGY  Members of the research team: Antonia Antoniou and Litsa Mikellides (teachers) and the members of the grade D1 and D2 student councils – 7 students aged 10 years old  Interviews with 25 customers of local supermarkets  Observing the supermarket shelves for 20 minutes  Observing the cash registers for 15 minutes  Instrument of measurement: structured questionnaire, structured table of recorded observations

3. 1. The students recorded the disposable products found on the supermarket shelves 2. They interviewed consumers who were shopping there and 3. They observed the number of consumers at the registers that used bags of multiple use (eco-bags) METHODOLOGY

5. RESULTS OF THE RESEARCH On the shelves of the supermarket the research group recorded the following: Wrapping paper, plastic bags, straws, plastic cups, aluminium foil, food containers, clear plastic roll, paper napkins, refresher towels, paper tablecloths, mpationeres, plastic gloves

6. 5 disposable products that the people surveyed usually use are:  Paper napkins  Plastic bags  Plastic plates  Plastic cups  Aluminium foil ΑΠΟΤΕΛΕΣΜΑΤΑ ΕΡΕΥΝΑΣ

7. Why do people use disposable products?  For hygienic reasons  They are easy to use/for practical reasons  We have no other choice  To save time  So the housekeeper doesn’t wash all the time  To keep the house clean ΑΠΟΤΕΛΕΣΜΑΤΑ ΕΡΕΥΝΑΣ

8. Where do people usually use disposable products?  In the kitchen  In the bathroom  At places where different events take place such as birthday parties  At restaurants and cafeterias  At excursions/trips ΑΠΟΤΕΛΕΣΜΑΤΑ ΕΡΕΥΝΑΣ

9. What else could be used in their place?  12 consumers, 48%, answered that they couldn’t use anything else  7 consumers, 28 %, answered that they could use other packaging such as glass or ceramic but don’t for practical reasons  6 consumers, 24%, stated that they could replace some disposable products but not all ΑΠΟΤΕΛΕΣΜΑΤΑ ΕΡΕΥΝΑΣ

10. Is it in your best interest (economically speaking) to buy disposable products?  YES-11 consumers, 44%,  NO-11 consumers, 44%  I don’t know/I have no opinion-2 consumers, 8%  We have no choice-1 consumer, 4% ΑΠΟΤΕΛΕΣΜΑΤΑ ΕΡΕΥΝΑΣ

11. Do you feel that disposable containers take their toll on the environment? Explain.  Yes answered 19 consumers, 76%  No answered 5 consumers, 20%  A little answered 1 consumer, 4% ΑΠΟΤΕΛΕΣΜΑΤΑ ΕΡΕΥΝΑΣ

12. Explanations: Disposable products harm the environment because:  “They aren’t recyclable”  “They pollute the environment”  “Rubbish is increased”  “Energy is wasted in order to make them” They don’t harm the environment to a great extent because:  “Some products, such as paper products, are bio degradable”  “We can recycle disposable products” ΑΠΟΤΕΛΕΣΜΑΤΑ ΕΡΕΥΝΑΣ

13. Do you believe that by using eco bags you help in the preservation of the environment?  Yes-23 consumers, (92%)  No-1 consumer, (4%)  A little- 1 consumer (4%), answered that it doesn’t help enough because “in our rubbish bins we only put plastic bags, therefore we are forced to use them”. ΑΠΟΤΕΛΕΣΜΑΤΑ ΕΡΕΥΝΑΣ

14. Do you use eco bags?  Yes-5 consumers (20%),  No-16 consumers(64%),  Sometimes-4 consumers(6%) ΑΠΟΤΕΛΕΣΜΑΤΑ ΕΡΕΥΝΑΣ

15. Is the Cypriot consumer sensitive towards the topic of disposable products?  Yes -5 consumers (20%),  No - 15 consumers (60%),  A little - 5 consumers (20%) “We are beginning to understand the topic much better” “In our community there is no organised recycling program. Where should I look for recycling bins???” ΑΠΟΤΕΛΕΣΜΑΤΑ ΕΡΕΥΝΑΣ

16. Consumer observations at the cash registers Of the 31 consumers  27 or 87% used plastic disposable bags and ι  Only 4 or 13% used the eco bag ΑΠΟΤΕΛΕΣΜΑΤΑ ΕΡΕΥΝΑΣ

17. ΣΥΜΠΕΡΑΣΜΑΤΑ  All consumers that were asked/interviewed use disposable products  The majority know that a lot of the disposable products can be replaced with other products such as glass or ceramic or cloth products but don’t do this  Most consumers know that disposable products harm the environment  Even though most consumers know that the eco bag helps the environment they don’t use it  Consumers that were asked believe that Cypriots are not sensitive enough regarding disposable products but are becoming more sensitive as time passes  Major reasons are: the organized efforts of supermarkets to replace plastic bags as well as the organised recycling program enforced by the local municipalities