Understanding plastic pollution at a remote tropical island (Príncipe Island, Gulf of Guinea): Consumer behaviour and management preferences

Plastic waste impacts major metropolitan centres and coastal areas of the Gulf of Guinea, prompting recent calls for coordinated regional efforts to manage and regulate plastic waste pollution. São Tomé and Príncipe (STP), a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) in the Gulf of Guinea, may be particularly vulnerable to the impacts of plastics (e.g. due to debris from both local and non-local sources). However, small territories are often left out of global and regional analyses of plastic use and remain data deficient. Questionnaires were used in the island of Príncipe to characterise consumer behaviour and identify potential management recommendations, taking into account local perceptions and potential implications for vulnerable groups. Residents have experienced changes in the amount of plastic, suggesting that the situation has worsened over the last 5 years. Plastic is generally perceived as an unsafe, toxic material, with people also mentioning that plastic has a detrimental effect on wildlife, particularly sea turtles. Overall, waste management and limited product alternatives are perceived as main challenges. Across the three potential measures considered (i.e. door-to-door plastic collection, fines and legislation banning plastics from the island), perceived community support, ease of implementation and impact on plastic reduction were consistently identified as key variables explaining variation in people’s support. Efforts in Príncipe should contribute to decision-making at the regional level, and ultimately to coordinated initiatives to manage and regulate plastic waste pollution. Vulnerability and potential contributions of SIDS to plastic reduction must be robustly considered alongside sustainable development and biodiversity conservation.