Knitting an action net to reduce plastic waste: reusable takeout food containers in New York City

ABSTRACT

The paper presents an analysis of actions undertaken to promote and implement reusable takeout food containers in New York City in response to the overuse of plastic disposable single-use containers. It discusses, in detail, the emergence of an action net around this issue and business models for reusables. The paper contributes to the theoretical discussion on network emergence by analyzing the formation and axiological tensions within the action net. Currently, market solutions are the only ones exercised and perceived as achievable by network participants, who consider market conditions as both given and unchallengeable. The paper argues that chances for network expansion depend on network participants’ perceptions of the limitations of social change.