MAGNO CONSUMER INSIGHTS – Month 6: Policies, Governance, and Advocacy
In the sixth chapter of our Consumer Awareness Campaign, we focused on the often-overlooked connection between waste policies, management systems, consumer safety, and the power of public action.
This month’s series examined how rules are written (and bent), how national systems differ, where plastics still pose risks, and how consumers can move from individual passion to collective impact. The key message? Systemic change depends on both policy accountability and consumer empowerment.
Through four articles, we explored the layers that define our waste and packaging reality:
1. The Waste Game: How Policies design the playboard, how some players cheat and What fair players (Consumers) Must Demand
We opened the month by pulling back the curtain on global and regional waste policies. From the Basel Convention to the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan, the promises often look strong—but enforcement gaps and corporate loopholes undermine results. This article calls on consumers to recognize the game being played, demand accountability, and pressure governments to act decisively.
2. Sorting the Truth: How EU Waste Management Systems Shape What We Throw Away
Next, we mapped the patchwork of national waste management systems across the EU. Some countries lead with high recycling rates and citizen engagement, while others lag behind with landfill dependence. The disparity reveals that consumer responsibility is only as effective as the system behind it. The lesson: transparency, harmonisation, and systemic investment are as crucial as individual action.
MAGNO CONSUMER INSIGHTS: Sorting the Truth: How EU Waste Management Systems Shape What We Throw Away
3. The Plastic Illusion: Consumer Safety and Rights in the EU
Shifting from waste to health, this piece explored how EU regulations protect consumers from plastic-associated risks—and where gaps remain. From BPA restrictions to the “cocktail effect” of multiple additives, the article highlights that “safe” doesn’t always mean harmless. It argues for stronger labelling, precautionary bans, and true transparency so consumers are not left carrying the burden of incomplete science.
MAGNO CONSUMER INSIGHTS: The Plastic Illusion: Consumer Safety and Rights in the EU
4. From Passion to Policy: A Practical Guide for Consumers Driving Environmental Change
To close the month, we turned to action. This guide lays out a step-by-step ladder for consumers: getting informed, supporting NGOs, using purchasing power, contacting representatives, and showing up locally. It shows how passion, when channelled strategically, can influence corporations and policymakers—turning individual choices into collective impact.
At MAGNO, we believe that transforming food packaging and waste systems requires more than innovation—it demands policy accountability, transparent systems, and empowered citizens. Month 6 underscores that while governments and corporations often hold the last word, consumers have the first move.
Stay tuned as we continue uncovering how each link in the chain—policies, industries, and citizens—can align to create a truly circular future.
