Context in relation to Gandhinagar

Disposing plastic is a major challenge in today’s world given that plastic is composed entirely of chemicals that would not decompose naturally and incinerating plastic emits unspeakable amount of pollutants into the air. It sticks around, in various forms around us, not perishing, not vanishing.

The plastic consumed in Gandhinagar ends up in the landfill and in roadsides which is then consumed by the stray animals. This affects their health. A decent percentage of plastic pollution is caused by carry bags and in Gandhinagar it is majorly used in street food and by vegetable vendors. This service aims to address, in particular, the issue of carrying vegetables by introducing eco friendly alternatives with no strings attached.

Field study

Locations : Sector 21, Vegetable Market,Kudasan, Infocity.

Motive of study and Interaction

• To understand the real life situation in the market.
• To understand the behaviour of customers and vendors.
• To understand the mode of transportation and time of buying vegetables.
• To observe the reaction of people towards the consumption of plastic bags and its awareness.

Online research conducted

In order to understand the buying pattern of the vegetables among people a survey conducted among people staying within the the Gandhinagar.

Questionnaire

Research and discussion in vegetable market

The main objective of the in field research is to understand the buying pattern of the customers and one on one discussion to know the problems and challenges faced by them while buying vegetables.

Active participants in the discussion and sharing their views regarding plastic bag usages.

Insights

• People buy fresh vegetables daily.
• Plastic bags are easily available.
• There is no proper control or law on the plastic bag usage.
• Alternatives are there but people prefer plastic bags because of ease to carry and handle.
• Vegetable vendors used to sprinkle water after every half an hour to keep vegetables fresh which also provokes people to use plastic bags to prevent water leakage.
• Different sect of people came to buy vegetables and have different preferences.
• People wants different vegetables in different Bags (segregated vegetables).
• Ease to maintain vegetable at home.
• There are informations regarding the harmful effects of plastic bags but most of them are in regional language (Gujarati).
• Most of the people who buy vegetables are working class and came directly from work to buy vegetables.
• Forget to carry their own bags due to hectic schedule.
• There is a cultural mix of people and there are different laws in different states which also create problem.
• There is no as such awareness camp for longer duration which opposes people from using plastic bags.
• Behaviour of the buyer towards the vegetable vendor affects the business.
• People who came from home bring their own bags but wants segregated vegetable bags also.
• Some people buy weekly also because of time issue.
• Using plastic bags for alternative purpose such as for waste disposal at home.
• Few people order vegetables from online platforms to their doorsteps.
• Vegetable vendors puts plastic bags under the counter for safety.
• Vegetable market waste is disposed by vendors only in the Municipal Corporation bins.

Interaction with people and observation or their buying pattern of vegetables.