Exploring consumer plastic packaging waste in urban environments using a design thinking approach to identify obstacles and develop recommendations

The current literature underscores an apparent gap in understanding the circular economy and its suitability for managing post-consumer plastic packaging waste. Australia lacks reliable evidence from the literature representing post-consumer plastic packaging waste. There is an inconsistency in recycling practices, and focusing on cities through a rigorous design thinking approach improves our understanding of the `plastic waste' wicked social problem. Nonetheless, this research presents opportunities for further exploration of plastic packaging waste management in high-density urban environments from a design perspective by exploring waste management strategies, opportunities, and limitations through the end users' perspective, the `consumers' living within metropolitan Melbourne.