TIDE TURNER

PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021
Acknowledgement and Credits

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading environmental authority that sets the
global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of
sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an advocate for the global
environment. The UNEP mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the
environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life
without compromising that of future generations.

WWF India is committed to creating and demonstrating practical solutions that help conserve India’s
ecosystems and rich biodiversity. Since 1969, WWF India has been working towards finding science-based and
sustainable solutions to address challenges at the interface of development and conservation. Today, with over
70 offices across 20 states, WWF India’s work spans across thematic areas including the conservation of key
wildlife species and their habitats; management of rivers, wetlands and their ecosystems; climate change
adaptation; driving sustainable solutions for business and agriculture; empowering local communities as
stewards of conservation; combatting illegal wildlife trade and inspiring children and youth to take positive
action for the environment through education and awareness programmes.

Centre for Environment Education (CEE) was established in 1984 as a Centre of Excellence of the Ministry
of Environment and Forests, Government of India. As a national institution, CEE’s mandate is to promote
environmental awareness nationwide. CEE develops innovative programmes and educational material, and
builds capacity in the field of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). It is committed to ensure that
Environmental Education (EE) leads to action for sustainable development. It undertakes field projects that
demonstrate and validate the role education can play in sustainable development.

Acknowledgment

We would like to thank our partners, and the universities, schools, Bharat Scouts & Guides, eco clubs, State
Nodal Agencies, teachers, professors, students that supported the Tide Turners Plastic Challenge in India.

Special thanks to Sangita Bhanderi, Rachit Tiwari and Reet Malhotra for assisting in the successful conduct of the
impact study.

Project Coordinators:
UNEP India: Gayatri Raghwa
WWF India: Radhika Suri, Ambreen Khan
CEE: Madhavi Joshi, Preeti R Kanaujia, Srishti Singh

Authors:
Saumya Singla, Priyanka Singh, Srishti Singh, Hasti Trivedi

Contributors:
CEE: Arju Goud, Deep Shah, Mansi Shah
WWF India: Neha Raghav, Shashank Dubey

Design: Vanshika Mody

CONTENTS

• Background 1
• Introduction to the Tide 3
Turner Challenge

• Program Implementation in 5
India

• Objectives of the Impact Study 7

• Methodology and Data 8

Collection

• Champion Level Findings 11

• Entry Level Findings 21

• Qualitative Interview Findings 26

• Conclusion 32

• Way Forward 33
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

I. BACKGROUND

Plastic entered our lives in the 1950s as a miracle substance and now, it is difficult to think of our world without
it. Being multipurpose, affordable and easily available, it is now ubiquitous. It has become an integral part of our
day-to-day life, with plastic products ranging from domestic articles to the very crucial COVID-19 protective gear.
Plastic consumption has exponentially increased in the recent decades and has emerged as a global issue, mostly
due to its improper disposal. Throughout history, humans have produced 9 billion tonnes of plastics , and nearly
one-third of the plastic packaging we use ends up clogging our drains and polluting our natural environment. A
huge amount of used plastic still exists, in our environment, and is bound to remain there for a long time. Yet,
plastics continue to be an unavoidable part of our lives. The impact from plastic pollution is already being widely
experienced across the world and, if the consumption is not cut down drastically, itwill soon land mankind into a
plastic pandemic.

Single-use plastics (SUPs), cause the biggest havoc to the environment. These items, mostly labelled ‘disposable’,
are non-recyclable due to their multi-layer, metallic pouches and thermoset plastics. Most of the usage of these
plastics is due to the major changes in our lifestyles, like online delivery services, takeaways and eating out.
Another major contributor to the rise of single-use plastics is community events, like professional gatherings,
weddings and parties. These plastics are usually dumped into landfills and pollute the nearby land, eventually
ending up in our oceans and rivers. Because they weight very little, wind currents carry them long distances,
polluting both nearby and distant water bodies. Often, they block sewage systems, creating a conducive
environment for pathogens and insects to grow. This is a leading cause of disease in various countries.

Every year, up to 13 million tonnes of plastic leak into our oceans, endangering our marine wildlife. That’s the same
as pouring an entire garbage truck of plastic into the ocean every minute . The Ellen MacArthur Foundation claims

1
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

that, by 2050, there will be more plastic in the oceans

(by weight) than there are fish . In marine ecosystems, due Every year, up to
13 Million tonnes
to pressure and turbulence, this plastic waste disintegrates
into tiny pieces called microplastic. Fishes and other
marine animals confuse these fragmented bits of
plastic with microplankton and consume them, causing
painful deaths. Besides marine life, these microplastics
of plastic leak into
reach and get consumed in different forms by birds,
animals and even by humans, which causes severe our oceans endangering
health problems and threats to their lives.
our marine wildlife.
In India, home to more than a billion humans, plastic is
consumed at an alarming rate. On one hand, plastic is
fulfilling the demand for economic growth of the country
but on the other, it is increasing the heights of landfills
and the loads in the seas. According to a report published
by Central Pollution Control Board India in 2018,
approximately 707 million metric tonnes of plastic
products are manufactured every year, and about 80%
of the plastics are used in the packaging sector.

The consumption of plastic products in India has surged

over the past 50 years – from 15 million tonnes in
double again over the next 20 years. The growth rate
of the Indian plastics industry is one of the highest in the
world: plastics consumption is growing at 16% annually in
the country. The cost of the huge plastic waste is paid by
oceans, marine life, and the natural environment of the
country.

Recycling plastic waste has garnered a lot of interest

in the last few years. While this can definitely aid the
management process, it is not a viable solution to the
enormity of the plastic waste problem. Recycling is a
complex process involving contributions from the whole
supply chain, the support of governance, institutions,
organisations and every individual on this planet.
Many countries, like ours, have not yet developed the
infrastructure and management strategies to recycle
all plastic waste. This is why only 9% of all the plastic waste ever produced has been recycled. Much of the rest
of the plastic cannot be recycled and exists today.

Given the recent developments in eco-friendly alternatives, it is now possible to replace single-use plastics with
sustainable alternatives and minimise plastic consumption. Refusal and replacement are the most appreciated
solutions when it comes to such plastics. The Government of India declared The Plastic Waste (Management
and Handling) Rules, 2011 as its regulatory policy to minimise waste generation as well as ensure sustainable
and better management of plastic waste. Despite the guidelines and rules in place, stakeholders, especially
consumers, play the most vital role in reducing plastic pollution. Changes in the way we use plastic require
the joint efforts of people and organisations. Plastic pollution is a major threat to the coming generations and
thus the youth, one of the most significant agents of change, has the vast potential to lead our fight against
plastics.

2
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

II. THE TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE

On one hand, the Tide Turners Challenge

focuses on awareness about plastic
consumption and on the other hand,
it opens an entry point towards green
advocacy for young people.

The broad perspective of the

Focusing on the role of young people as leaders in the fight campaign was
against plastic pollution, the United Nations Environment
Program (UNEP) introduced a global campaign called the
Tide Turners Plastic Challenge was to educate young people
To build knowledge
about the dangers of single-use plastic, equip them with basic
and understanding
understanding of advocacy, and motivate them to put
about single-use
their knowledge into action in their communities.
plastic in public
As UNEP says, the youth of today are going to form the
society of tomorrow and are aware of the environmental
impacts of our modern lifestyles and want to make a difference.
Only if we empower the young generation through knowledge To promote actions
and skills, can we aspire to create a vibrant and sustainable by individuals and
future for our planet and humanity. communities to
facilitate change
The UNEP has been working with the organizations such as
Scouts, the Girl Guides and Junior Achievement across various
African countries and the Caribbean and with WWF and CEE in
India, with the aim of mobilising thousands of young people to To influence local
participate in the fight against plastic pollution and marine litter. stakeholders
through advocacy
of sustainable
practices

3
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

The challenge was designed to exhibit the following learning outcomes:

• Understand how plastic pollution is threatening life in water and on land;

• Understand how the global community is tackling the issue;
• Act to reduce your personal use of single-use or disposable plastics;
• Inspire your friends, family, school/college, and community to refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle single-use
or disposable plastics;
• Take the lead on a wider scale to create lasting change in your region with regard to the use of single-use
plastics, marine litter and microplastics.

4
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

III. PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION IN INDIA

In India, the campaign is being implemented by World Wide Fund for Nature India (WWF India) and Centre for
Environment Education (CEE) and the campaign has now completed three phases of outreach, education and
leadership, and, in 2019-2021, the challenge reached out to 331,804 youth. Million Sparks Foundation partnered
the challenge during its second phase. During the third phase, the challenge was rolled out in the eco clubs of
India with the support of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

The participants were school and college students, and facilitators such as teachers and eco clubs - all between
11 and 35 years of age. The Tide Turners Challenge consisted of activities in three levels :

LEVEL

1
Entry level:
Entry-level activities were designed to get participants thinking about their own consumption by
enhancing their knowledge about the issues with single-use plastics. Further, the activities were to
inspire them to take simple actions and lifestyle changes to reduce single-use plastic from their day-
to-day lives.

2
Leader level:
In the second level, the participants dived deeper to explore, investigate, and take action towards
reducing single-use plastic consumption and its management within their homes, neighborhoods
and communities.

Champion level:

3 In the final level, the participants would scale up efforts to make a greater impact. Activities in this stage
included promoting sustainable consumption and production by influencing consumers and businesses,
educating others and continuing their advocacy efforts by creating educational assets like videos, comics,
storybooks and GIFs.

All participants were provided with a programme toolkit, which carried introductory information about the
harmful effects of single-use plastic with practical examples, statistical data, facts and infographics. This
toolkit also carried the challenge activities of all three levels, which the youth needed to perform in order
to complete the challenge.

The challenge toolkit was made available in nine languages: English, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu,
Bengali, Kannada, Gujarati and Malayalam.Each level of the challenge was rewarding for the youth.
Every participant received an e-certificate after completing all the activities of a level, and a badge
after completing the Champion level. A national summit was held to recognise those who emerged
as champions after completing all the three challenge levels. Some of the success stories were
featured on various platforms.

5
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

During the pilot phase of the campaign, 2493 participants were

PHASE 1 shortlisted and trained to mobilise and engage their peers to
(July 2019–November 2019) take the challenge. This pilot initiative reached out to 48,859
youth and 2493 leaders in 250 schools and colleges across 14
cities in 8 states.
Even during the short period of this phase, the young leaders
demonstrated on-ground handprint actions, cleanliness drives,
waste segregation initiatives, awareness campaigns, and
individual pledges to reduce plastic pollution. They were
also able to share their experiences on the occasion of Gandhi
Jayanti, as part of the government’s Swachhata week, meet
the Prime Minister of India, and have a print and digital media
engagement. The pilot phase ended with a felicitation ceremony
to award the best champions.

In phase 2, the Tide Turners Plastic Challenge transformed into

PHASE 2 a digital programme, engaging 126,236 youth across India.
(January 2020–June 2020) Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, CEE and WWF India
joined hands with the Million Sparks Foundation to transform the
campaign, which was originally developed for face-to-face
activities, into a digital challenge. In this new form, the campaign
engaged with over 40 institutional partners and 3000 schools
and colleges from 28 states and union territories, through 75
interactive webinars conducted in 12 different languages. About
15,000 Scouts from various states of India also participated
in the challenge. A National Youth Summit was conducted on
June 30, 2020, which saw a participation of 1900 youth and
international environmentalists who encouraged participants
on their journeys as plastic warriors.
In the two consecutive years - 2019 and 2020 - the campaign
reached out to a total of 175,095 youth.

The third phase of the Tide Turners Plastic Challenge was

PHASE 3 launched in November 2020 and rolled out in January 2021.
(January 2021–June 2021) The participation was open to youth from schools, colleges,
organisations, youth networks and professionals between
11-35 years of age. This phase also saw the launch of the eco
club model, where thye MoEFCC engaged its National Green
Corps’ eco clubs from across India to take up the challenge.
The challenge was entirely conducted online on
www.tide-turners.org, with activities designed to be completed
at home or in its vicinity. In this phase, the challenge reached
156,998 youth and 1049 eco clubs. 11 workshops with 2029
educators and 80 webinars were conducted to train 14,862
youth. The toolkit was modified to suit the digital nature of the
challenge, and customised content as well as reporting formats
were made for eco clubs and groups. The activities included self-assessments, plastic audits at home, waste
segregation and recycling, evaluation of single-use plastic items, and digital awareness campaigns. The
champions who completed the challenge were awarded badges and e-certificates, and were recognized
at the National Youth Summit 2021.
While the first two phases encouraged participation at an individual level, in this phase participants could opt
to enter as to individuals or groups. The group model emerged from the fact that joint efforts to influence
community-level plastic habits had beenmore effective The group participation was incentivised by offering
gold, silver and bronze certification to the coordinators based on the evaluation criteria. The top 20 eco clubs
of India were also awarded with sustainable solutions for composting their waste, in recognition of their
phenomenal participation in the midst of a pandemic. 6
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

IV. OBJECTIVES OF THE IMPACT STUDY

The aim of this study is to understand the efficacy of the Tide Turner Challenge in both individual participants as
well as eco clubs that were a part of the programme. This evaluation study is a qualitative descriptive study that
was conducted at the end of the programme through an online survey and interviews.

While it doesn’t fall under the ambit of traditional impact evaluation studies, it allows us to reflect on the
following aspects of the program:

• The level of awareness and knowledge of single-use plastics

• Whether the attitude towards the consumption of single-use plastics is in accordance with the goal of the
programme
• The impact of community-level leadership and additional skill-building
• The indirect impact on members of the community as a result of community-based activities
• The scope for improvement in future programmes, especially regarding the effectiveness of a digital medium.

The study is divided into two parts - survey analyses of the youth challenge, and qualitative case studies of the
top performers and eco clubs. Our judgement is based on the outcomes regarding level of knowledge, changes in
behaviour, additional skill development, community impact, and overall feedback on the programme.

7
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

V. METHODOLOGY AND DATA COLLECTION

1. SURVEY ANALYSIS
The evaluation of the Tide Turner Challenge is a descriptive study of the data collected from over 700
participants. It explores the responses to different qualitative variables about the framework and the efficacy
of the programme. Descriptive studies have been used extensively, across fields, as the basis of both qualitative
and quantitative studies. They allow us to better understand overarching themes and patterns from a larger
sample, than a rigorous interview-based analysis would. Often, descriptive studies are used to represent the
first scientifically-backed research in new areas of inquiry, upon which subsequent empirical studies are based.
The same is true for this evaluation study. A robust descriptive report is based on clear, specific and measured
responses to an action, to understand the development in the behaviour and practices (Procheş). This study was
conducted at the end of the programme. As no baseline or opinion survey had been conducted before the
programme, it is purely a description of self-reported knowledge, behaviour and practices.

This study aims to better understand how the progamme, directly and indirectly, shaped the participant’s
perspective towards plastic consumption and its consequences. For this purpose, the participants were sent
an online survey form via Google Forms. There were two different surveys floated for this study.

I. Champion-level Participant Survey

This survey was released to only champion-level participants, i.e., those who
had successfully completed all three levels of the challenge, so that they CHAMPION-LEVEL
would besufficiently aware of the programme and had invested enough time SURVEY OBSERVATIONS
to show measurable progress. The questions for the survey were based on
the KAP evaluation survey. According to the WHO memo7, a KAP survey
usually collects information on the knowledge (what is known), attitudes
(what is thought), and practices (what is done) about general and/or
specific topics. This comprehensive survey allowed us to understand the
demographic distribution of the participants and provide us insight into their
6200
participants
knowledge regarding single-use plastics, behaviours and practices post the
programme, outreach efforts, and feedback regarding the program.
The survey questions were drawn from the material of the course, NO. OF SURVEY RELEASED
commonly-observed practices, and indicators of importance to the
stakeholders. The survey was sent to 6200 participants, on June 22, 2021,
via email and the official website.

597
At the end of three weeks, 597 responses were registered. According to a
report, the average response rate for free online surveys is usually between
5-20%, rarely crossing 30% (Lindemann). While the sample in the survey response
stands at 10%, according to our calculations, it has a sampling confidence
level of 95% and a margin error of 5% (Kadam et al). A smaller margin error
NO. OF SURVEY RESPONSE
ensures we can have higher confidence that the poll result actually
represents the results of surveying the entire population. Hence, from
this survey, we can deduce invaluable insight into how the programme
was received and how it affected the participants. Additionally, the
survey questions are provided in the Annexure.

8
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

II. Entry-level Participant Survey

ENTRY-LEVEL
A shorter online survey was released to all level-1 participants to
understand the challenges they faced, and how the module could be SURVEY OBSERVATIONS
modified to increase retention in future. Administered similarly, the survey
was released to 10,914 participants and 261 responses were received after
a three-week period. While this is quite a small sample set, it matched our
expected response rate.
10,914
These participants included everyone at level 1, even a significant number participants
of participants who didn’t move forward or initiate the challenge. The survey
questions are provided in the Annexure.
NO. OF SURVEY RELEASED

2. INTERVIEW ANALYSIS
We recognise that capturing a change in behaviour and attitudes can be
quite challenging, especially in self-reported surveys where experimental
demand effects are high. Hence, to showcase the impact the programme
261
response
had on its participants, a case-study analysis of the top-performing
participants and eco clubs was performed.

This qualitative analysis attempts to capture the influence of the programme NO. OF SURVEY RESPONSE
on the lessons that the participants learnt, the innovative thinking it
inculcated, and the experience of the digital platform, among others.
The interviews attempted to bring out the personal stories of the
champions and the changes they were able to bring to their institutions
and communities.

I. Youth Champions
The team selected the top ten performers, and enquired about their
experiences and journeys of the Tide Turner Challenge. 10 participants were
interviewed over video calls, following which, transcripts were developed
and themes were evaluated. The interviews, recorded with the participants’
consent, were guided by the following five-question framework, designed to
help reveal a distinct set of champion engagement archetypes:

“
• Lessons learnt: one big lesson the champion learnt

• Changes in attitudes and behaviours: the factors that inspired

The interviews
behaviour change and response from the community attempted to bring
• Innovative solutions and actions taken: the participants’ engagement/ out a personal
actions/solutions during the challenge story of the
• Challenges: the unexpected challenges faced by the participants, and champions and the
how they overcame them change they were
• Potential activities for phase 4: the champions’ expectations from able to bring in
future challenge activities
their institutions
and communities.

9
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

II. Eco Clubs

INFOGRAPHIC
The groups and eco clubs, unlike individuals, had different experiences in terms of logistics and impact.
To capture that, a different set of interview questions was designed, catering to the nuances of the workings of a
bigger group. 18 of the top-performing eco clubs were recognised by the team. The facilitators and coordinators
of the eco clubs were interviewed to share their outcomes from the challenge. The collective responses from
these interviews were divided into different themes and have been used for qualitative analysis of the evaluation
report.

A different questionnaire was designed to assess the efficacy of the challenge in bringing up the learnings about
single-use plastic, and the overall response of student groups. The interviews were divided into the following
broad categories:

• Lessons learnt: one major learning of the group from the experience, and the ways in which it is being
inculcated

• Value additions in existing model and new approaches: Improvement in the functioning of the eco clubs
and the involvement of teachers

• Student involvement: the change in the level of involvement in the activities of the programme, as
compared to usual eco club activities, of members those directly and indirectly involved

• Innovations and collective action: the response to community outreach efforts, impact on the institution,
and the innovative projects the team undertook

• Major challenges: challenges faced in adapting to the digital program, logistical issues and how they were
managed

• Feedback on the program: The ease of reporting mechanisms, fulfilment of resource requirements, and
additional resources that could provide support

10
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

VI. CHAMPION LEVEL FINDINGS

Table 1 depicts the demographic details of the level 3
participants of the Tide Turner Challenge. From a total INDICATOR % OF RESPONSE
of 597 responses, there is an equal level of participation
amongst males and females. Further, the candidates of GENDER
this challenge are divided into three broad categories :

Female 48.9
• School students
Male 50.7
• College students

• Young professionals Prefer not to say 0.4

BACKGROUND
This information was useful to gauge the impact of the
program over multiple age groups. A majority of the
participants were school and college students.
School student 41.5

College student 39.5

Young professionals 19.0

TABLE 1

Program feedback
The participants were asked a few feedback questions.

FIGURE 1- Responses regarding the most Impactful task

Percentage of population

11
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

Figure 1 depicts that, for a large majority of participants, creating awareness through educational modules and
videos was the most rewarding, followed by calculations pertaining to carbon footprint, which inspired them to
re-evaluate their current consumption. For 16% of the participants, doing an SUP audit and practising recycling
was most impactful, and for 13%, it was reaching out to businesses about their products, and designing an
alternative

FIGURE 2 - Response regarding issues faced during the programme

Percentage of population

Figure 2 shows that about 30% of participants from each age category reported having faced technical difficulties.
This is a point of concern, and providing technical assistance through an interactive bot or a comprehensive FAQ
page in future programmes could allow for increased retention. In terms of clarity regarding the instructions, over
80% of the respondents could follow the challenges, but to further increase the quality and clarity of the
programme, the instructions could be made more elaborate and examples could be incorporated.

12
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

FIGURE 3 - Responses on preferences regarding the programme

Percentage of population

As seen in figure 3, 47% of the participants , and 44% of school students, preferred an offline mode of the
programme as it would allow for activities that involved the community. So while the online programs allow
for higher and more flexible participation, more optional offline activities could be included in the future.

63% of the participants were of the opinion that working in a group would have yielded better results, as it would
allow for increased accountability, enthusiasm and synergy. It could also lead to increased experiential learning.

FIGURE 4 - Responses to improvement in course structure

Percentage of population

13
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

Finally, the feedback survey addressed the question of amassing public interest for the programme.
Figure 4 shows that 50% of the respondents felt that more training and skill-building sessions would do the
trick. One-third of the population felt that the programme could benefit with more knowledge-based videos,
while a few participants would have liked a flexible course of action. This was especially true for young
professionals, for whom time constraint is a major hindrance.

Knowledge Questions
It was imperative to assess the knowledge of plastic QUESTIONS % OF RESPONSE
pollution awareness that the participants had retained.
Four questions related to the information mentioned in Does plastic pollution
the modules were asked, both in the form of videos and remain localized to an area? 55.3
text, to gauge their understanding of SUPs.
How many years does it
take for plastic bottles to 46.9
While, on average, the respondents of this challenge decompose?
are well-versed with basic knowledge pertaining to plastic
pollution, stress needs to be put on strengthening the Which of these contains
79.7
understanding of decomposition and recyclable materials, hidden plastic?
and distinguishing between materials that can be recycled
and those that can’t. Which type of plastic can not
be recycled?
38.7

TABLE 2

FIGURE 5 - Correct Responses to Knowledge Questions

Percentage of population

It can be seen from the figure above that 90% of the population could score upto three correct answers, with
the majority getting at least 2 answers correct. Moreover, only 5% of the participants got all the answers wrong.
This shows that while participants were able to retain facts, there is scope for improvement which can be catered
to with quizzes, short video recaps and more audio-visual tools.

14
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

Practices and Attitudes

In this domain, we collected data across five practices to review how the programme inspired participants to
change their day-to-day lifestyles

FIGURE 6 - Responses to practising waste segregation

Percentage of population

From figure 6, it is clear that the programme indeed played an important role in changing the perception of the
population towards adopting an environmentally friendly attitude. For a country like India, where over 80% of
waste is disposed of indiscriminately without segregation, this is a step in the right direction (Singh, 2002).
While a majority reported having practised before the programme, this number must be accepted with caution as
there is a tendency to overstate altruistic behaviours during self-reporting data collection. Only a negligible
proportion reported not switching their practice, implying that, post programme, people understand that
segregation is a good practice.

FIGURE 7 - Responses to using sustainable alternatives to plastic bags

Percentage of population
15
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

The programme increases participants’ inclination towards pro-environment actions, as seen in figure 7.

FIGURE 8 - Responses shifting to sustainable alternatives

Percentage of population

Figure 8 shows the percentage of the population in favour of switching to environmentally friendly substitutes
of common household plastic goods. A significant majority of the population initiated a complete or partial shift
to sustainable alternatives of both major and minor items at home. This is a testimony that the programme was
successful in bringing about a conscious change amongst the participants.

FIGURE 9 - Reasons for not shifting to sustainable products

Percentage of population

16
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

While the alternative goods market is rising, a large chunk of the population still continues to use plastic.
Figure 9 discusses the plausible reasons as to why participants find it difficult to switch to sustainable products. It
can be deduced that while 64% of the participants wish to make a change, they find the prices of sustainably
produced goods too high. This is in line with the fact that such products in India continue to be priced far higher
than mass-produced plastic goods. Some others suggested that a bigger selection of products would allow them
to make a change.

This throws light on aspects that can be focused on in the next chapter of the programme. The next phase of
activities could get participants to interact with companies to design cost-effective prototypes, and make
homemade sustainable goods as a way to reduce plastic consumption.

FIGURE 10 - Responses to adopting sustainable practices post programme

Percentage of population

In the last section, participants were asked about the activities they found to be the most impactful, and what
they have adopted post the programme. There has been a significant improvement in the attitude towards
activities such as carrying your own water bottle, refusing to take plastic bags from shopkeepers, and buying
products without plastic packaging. Around 40% to 60% of the population is now sensitive to this grave
problem, and are willing to take baby steps towards a plastic-free world.

17
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

Outreach
A study by Boulay et. al. (2002) showed that overall reach increases dramatically from 50% to 76% when indirect
impact of a public awareness programme is factored in. Along similar lines, the indirect impact of the Tide Turner
Programme was estimated at a community level.

FIGURE 11 - Responses regarding discussion among peers

Percentage of population

Figure 11 shows the frequency of discussions about sustainable and plastic-free ways of living within friends and
peer groups. Around 61% of the population had these conversations since he programme, but 31% reported
more discussions after attending the programme, taking the count to 93%.

Interestingly, participants who regularly discussed these issues got a higher percentage of knowledge questions
correct than those who didn’t. However, it must be noted that, in self-reporting studies, there is a tendency for
people to overreport altruistic habits.

18
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

FIGURE 12 - Educational material on single-use plastic in circulation

Percentage of population
Figure 12 shows how many additional people the participants reached out to. Around 67% of the participants
distributed educational books and comics on single-use plastics to up to 50 people, with 12% even reporting
distributing 100 copies. Majority could reach out to upto 20 people. Besides this, 7% did not create any content on
single-use plastics as a part of outreach program.

Even with the small sample of 597 people participating in this activity, if we average each person distributing
copies to 30 other individuals, we can safely vouch for the fact that 1800 new people were made aware of the
harms of SUPs. This number jumps to 13,000, if we account for the entire population of 6200 champions that
participated in the activity.

FIGURE 13 - Digital imprints of videos created for plastic use

Percentage of population
19
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

Figure 13 shows the audience’s engagement with the digital campaigns on plastics disseminated via social media
platforms like YouTube and Facebook. In the age of social media, this is a powerful indicator to judge indirect out-
reach. Around 60% of the population that participated in this activity reported receiving up to 100 views on
their videos. Again, taking into account the outreach of each participant, we can concur that the benefits of the
programme branched out to a much wider audience than one can capture just in terms of the participant pool.

Skill Development

FIGURE 14 - Responses on skill development during the programme

Percentage of population

Of 597 participants, 562 individuals across all age groups felt that this programmehelped them develop allied
skills. A prime example was learning soft skills so they could better advocate against SUPs.

The major skills imbibed during the course of this programme included leadership abilities, graphic design, public
speaking and effective communication skills. A majority of the population felt that they gained leadership
abilities and became better speakers, which would further allow them to work with authorities and put
across their demands.

20
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

VII. ENTRY LEVEL FINDINGS

Of all the participants who registered, around 50% didn’t INDICATOR % OF RESPONSE
initiate the programme and of those who did, around 30%
didn’t go beyond the level 1 challenge. While the attrition
rate for Massive Online Open Courses has historically been GENDER
quite high, feedback and suggestions were taken from
participants who didn’t move beyond level one of the Female 46
challenge, to understand how retention can be increased
in the future. Male 53
We received a total of 261 responses at the end of three
Prefer not to say 1
weeks, which is a small sample but gives us a glimpse into
the issues that the participants faced and how the
programme can be strengthened in the future. BACKGROUND

School student 29
Demography
College student 58
As seen in table 1,there is approximately an equal
distribution of genders among level 1 participants. Young professionals 13
The highest participation in the survey was from
college students.
TABLE 3

Causes of Early Withdrawal

FIGURE 15 - Reasons for discontinuing the programme

Percentage of population

21
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

Figure 15 depicts the participants’ reasons for not being able to complete the programme. The overlap in
percentages is because the participants were allowed to select multiple responses. Approximately 72% cited time
constraints as the prime reason for discontinuing the programme. This reflects that phase three needs to be
planned such that the challenges can be carried out outside of college/work hours, and the duration should be
long enough to allow everyone to easily complete the challenges. 24% of the population responded that they were
unable to properly understand the challenges and the subsequent requirements, leading to the conclusion that-
the intensity of challenges was agreeable to most but the wording of instructions needs improvement.

Technical Issues

FIGURE 16 - Responses on facing technical issues during the programme

Percentage of population

More than 30% of the participants reported facing technical issues This demonstrates that the logistical issues
should be rectified for the programme to work smoothly.

22
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

Clarity of instructions

FIGURE 17 - Responses on the clarity of instructions

Percentage of population

Figure 17 depicts the comprehensibility of the instructions. Around 62% of the participants, of all ages, felt that
the instructions were clearly specified and well-detailed.

However, as 40% of surveyees found the instructions difficult to follow, they could be more detailed and well-
crafted in the future, with technical support provided where required.

23
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

Increasing Participation

FIGURE 18- Ways to encourage participation in the programme

Percentage of population

Out of the 487 responses (including multiple selections from some participants), around 54% felt that formal
recognition at every level would have motivated them to carry on with the programme since during the third
phase of the program formal recognitions in the form of certificates were handed out to youths who completed
the champion level. Around 26% felt that a reward for the champion would have been a good incentive, and
approximately 19% would have liked technical help.

24
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

FIGURE 19- Ways to encourage participation in the programme

Reasons offered

Figure 19 breaks down the previous results further, according to age groups. While the school and college
students had similar responses to the average, around 57% of the professionals felt the need for more
on-ground activities It is possible to conclude that customising the challenges to the age and background of
the participants might help them perform better, and an increase in level-wise recognition could aid in motivating
all participants to complete the programme.

25
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

VIII. QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWS : FINDINGS

Qualitative iInterviews were conducted with thefor Tide Turner champions, including students, teachers and
facilitators who inspired and created an impact on their communities. The interviewees were shortlisted
approached based on their high scores and the evaluation of their performance in the challenge activities,
and selected based on their on-the-ground experiences as well as willingness to share their personal stories.

1. YOUTH CHALLENGE CHAMPIONS

Interviewees for this survey were between 12 and 39 years of age, and were a mix of school students, graduates
and teachers, from different parts of India. Male to female respondents ratio was 40:60.

Lessons learnt
Participants gave a diverse set of responses when questioned about the key learnings from the programme
but they can be consolidated into a few common themes. A significant number of them reported that they
understood the imminence of issues caused by rapidly increasing plastic waste and its impact on their daily
lives. One interviewee expressed that while they had heard of the term ‘plastic pollution’, this was the first time
they learnt about the hard-hitting figures and that, in turn, made the problem more real and personal to them.
Another emergent theme was the importance of reducing plastic waste. Interviewees noted that the programme
made them realise that it wasn’t just sufficient to reuse plastic, but it was essential to curb it entirely.
One participant understood that no man-made plastic entirely decomposes, so the only way to mitigate
the problem is to actively reduce consumption. Along similar lines, a crucial lesson learnt by all champions
revolved around the idea of community awareness. They realised how important it is, not only to reduce
consumption of single-use plastic themselves, but also to make other people understand the dire consequences
of improper disposal of plastic waste and plastic pollution on the environment. Further, they realised that as
they convinced the community to reduce consumption of single
use plastic, they also needed to provide affordable and innovative I came to know more about 4R’s. I became
alternative options to use. One of the interviewees stated that more aware about plastic problems and
replacing plastic bottles with copper bottles is not only sustainable understood the concept of sustainability.
My communication also improved
but also beneficial to health, reflecting the possibility of reviving the
and now I have the confidence to
age-old Indian traditional practices which were sustainable and communicate with the locals.
environment-friendly. Champions also learnt that a very strong
awareness drive is needed to motivate people. While most of them
are aware, they do not implement sustainable practices and need • Arfidha, Kerala
to reiterate their commitment to preserving this world for the
generations to come.

Change in attitudes and behaviours

The interviewees reported a change in their consumption of plastics, as they began to increase their usage of
alternatives to plastic products. They came up with innovative solutions to adapt to sustainable lifestyles, and
reused as well as recycled the products they could. They reported reusing plastic bottles for both decoration and
as planters, using cloth and jute alternatives, increased their use of old newspapers over plastic coverings and
switched to eco-friendly gifts. One of the interviewees also expressed how they empathise more than before with
nature, and took extra steps to ensure a proper disposal of plastic waste to avoid it ending up in landfills. They
reported that a major reason for this shift was the carbon footprint
The challenge changed me to a large
and plastic audits that they performed during the challenge, which
extent. I did a plastic audit for the first
quantified the wastage and helped them convince their families to time and it was truly eye opening. While
opt for environmentally friendly products. The champions also felt I was already conscious about my
the need to drive more awareness campaigns to help induce large- consumption, doing this audit made
scale behaviour change. One of them noted that they had begun me realise the ways I could further curb
my use and I am much more careful now.
visualising their surroundings differently, and whenever they go out
now, they pay more attention to the litter around them -- something
• Roshan Saxena, Madhya Pradesh
they didn’t do before -- and take action.
26
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

Innovative solutions and actions taken

Through the challenge I realised that while

we can introduce newer technologies, to
This phase of the Plastic Tide Turners Challenge saw a lot of
see ground-level results we need to get
innovative ideas adopted by the youth to ensure that less communities involved actively into the
plastic ends up in landfills. One of the champions reported using process, be it through NGOs, local
biodegradable coconut shells as pots for plants instead of governments, or door-to-door
discarding them, which controlledwaste disposal, and also campaigning.
provided extra nutrition to the soil. Other champions created
art and DIY products from plastic, like pen stands and • Eldon Soshley, Shillong
flowerpots from bottles. One interviewee also came up with
the idea of a competition to persuade their society members to
incorporate pots made from plastic bottles.
Several of these solutions came about through on-ground
actions such as beach clean-up drives. The waste collected
from beaches was recycled and made into eco-bricks. The
awareness drives also resulted in some of the local vendors
The challenge has provided us with new
opting for a better alternative of selling plastic bottles instead
ideas and technologies by which we can
of plastic pouches, which they collected later from customers and focus on reuse and recycling of plastic
recycled for monetary gains. Participants also came up with waste. Hope we will be able to implement
digitally innovative ideas to educate people - one participant the learnings through the support of
reported making videos and simple quizzes for their neighbours others in the future.
that resulted in, for the first time, people segregating waste in the
society. Another ingenious idea implemented by a student
involved putting up placards urging people to not litter at • Mansi Thakar, Gujarat
tourist spots in their city. Participants carried out door-to-door
campaigns and, while they initially found it challenging to
convince people, they received a fairly positive community
response by the end of the programme.
In order to further spread the message, a Tide Turners Challenge (TTC) champion, Aditiya Mukherjee, wrote to the
MP of Thiruvananthapuram and policymaker, Dr. Shashi Tharoor, asking them to join the movement. As a result
of Aditya’s efforts, Dr. Tharoor used his social media influence to mobilise citizens to take the first steps, and also
pledged his support to the cause of reducing single-use plastic in his constituency, working with other
stakeholders to address this issue at the state-level.
27
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

Feedback about the programme

Overall, the interviewees gave exceedingly positive reviews. They
found the online programme useful as they could follow it from the Especially in this pandemic, ground
safety of their houses. Interestingly, they also reported learning activities were quite difficult and thus
new technical and soft skills, especially improved communication, the online campaign was quite helpful to
public speaking and innovative use of the digital media. reach out to people and create awareness
about the issue of single-use plastics.
Participants appreciated the ease of the format. However, they I could target more people.
did have some concerns, the most common being the mode of
language. They felt the programme would reach more people if • Sonia Pradhan, Orissa
it was free of language barriers

Another feedback was the proposal to include all age groups

-younger kids could be sensitised early, and elders would
bring more experience. Several interviewees suggested that
the programme should be tailored to the ages or educational
qualifications of the participants, and that the challenges
should be curated in a way that everyone could understand I really enjoyed the online medium, it
and perform them within their capacity and experience. allowed me to participate while being safe.
But I would love to work more closely with
There was also a suggestion that the challenge could support local bodies in the next phase and see
young people with stakeholder mapping in their region and how the plans can be put in action.
include a roadmap that they could follow, to make an activity
reach the right authorities on time. • Ankita, Myanmar

Interviewees suggested that there should be an assessment, both

before and after the programme, to capture the growth in their
knowledge, change in their attitudes and how they contributed to
society. Measure their development during the course would further motivate them to be more
proactive.

Some appreciated the design of the format and its ease in understanding the concepts, the training workshops
that helped them gain skills to work efficiently, and the plastic audit as a good way to reflect the quantity of
plastic consumed over time. They did suggest that, given how interesting they found the videos, they would
like more audio-visual tools in the next phase.

One of the interviewees offered a rather interesting suggestion, noting that they would like to know more about
how the problem is being tackled by various countries and multinational firms. Since the problem is global, it
should be viewed in that respect. Learning from the exemplary work of other nations could motivate participants
to think out of the box while also holding their local authorities accountable.

Potential activities for phase 4

One of the champions suggested including more ground-based activities, like dramas, street plays as a part
of community engagements and participatory school activities. Other suggestions included adding more
inspirational DIY content and interactive videos for participants on the website, and including more activities that
require creativity like curating poems, shooting a small film, and writing skits and stories to spread awareness.
They also asked for a deeper engagement with the participants to support ideas and innovative solutions.

One interviewee suggested that participants with an interest in research should be encouraged and connected
with others to perform in-depth research and maybe aim at being published.

28
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

2. ECO-CLUBS
To shed light on work of eco clubs and their members as part of the challenge, interviews were conducted with
the coordinators of 18 of the best-performing eco clubs across India.

Lessons learned
One of the interviewees highlighted how their club came to learn
about microplastics in the environment as well as in what they eat.
They also discovered alternatives to the single use plastics and We can’t remain without plastic because
ways to reduce its consumption. plastic has become a part of our everyday
life. But we should know how to manage
Various eco clubs adopted the process of maintaining a plastic plastic. Keep them, recycle them, use
diary to measure their daily consumption of single-use plastics as them again and again. Through TTC, we
all have learnt a lesson to use plastic in a
per the format of the challenge. They also learnt how to manage
wise manner.
plastic waste, segregate it and properly dispose of it so it would not
end up in landfills. They gained knowledge on the 5Rs of • Sachin Jaiswal, Maharashtra
plastic waste and plastic consumption, and the hazardous
effects they have on the environment.
Another coordinator stated that they took up more initiatives,
specially to sensitise students early, to the benefits of using
sustainable alternatives to plastic. The club now organizes Children were more aware about the daily
meetings once every week to discuss plastics and give updates use of plastics and have now developed
a habit of keeping the used plastics for a
on plantation drives, clean-up drives, and other activities that they
month. We have a plastic collection centre
carry out. The eco clubs also acknowledged the lack of at school where students can deposit
management as well as implementation on rules and plastics every Friday. They sometimes
regulations. come with their parents and take selfies
as a matter of this small achievement

• Mitali Mehta, Maharashtra

Value-addition in the Existing Model and

New Approaches
Most of the eco clubs believed that the programme and the
activity-based approach of the challenge increased the
involvement of the students, when compared to the usual
eco club activities. They were motivated to take individual
actions, such as proper disposal of plastic waste, stopping
the use of plastics lunch boxes, educating the communities,
using cloth masks, and making paper bags.

The programme inspired students to work, not only within their

campuses, but also at home and in their communities. TTC is a good model which can be
The coordinators also felt proud that most of their students implemented in the community. Earlier
were able to successfully conduct activities at the village the students used to conduct activities
only at the school level but now they also
level, even during the pandemic.
have started working in their own home
and community.
Many of them pointed out that the challenge added a great value
to the functioning of their clubs, and initated valuable
• Anjili Maheswari, Ghaziabad
discussions.

29

.
.
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

Innovations and Actions

The eco clubs came up with numerous innovative ideas and
actions including organising awareness dives, clean-up drives
and plantations, promoting the use of sustainable alternatives Before Tide Turners, our eco-club used to
conduct routine activities on themes such
like cloth and paper bags and distributing them to local vendors as Plantation, cleaning and saving tenergy
and shopkeepers, and, in one case, even taking up farming on etc. Now on every Saturday we discuss
campus. plastic issues.

As a part of the awareness drive, one of the eco clubs practically

observed the recycling process by going to the field. As a result
of this trip, they set up benches made from recycled plastic. • Seema Agnihotri, Madhya Pradesh
Another eco club took up the challenge of cleaning up a
local pond and collecting the plastic waste from the premises.
Later, they ensured that this waste was disposed of
properly with the help of the municipal corporation.

The youth from several of the eco clubs conducted webinars to

make people in rural areas aware of plastic pollution. One of the
clubs visited houses in the nearby village, where they explained
the problems of littering and the benefits of using dustbins. Students have started avoiding the usage
of plastic items, and single use masks.
Another club organised local community campaigns and put
After they were sensitised, they have now
forward the idea of celebrating festivals in an eco friendly started using cloth masks.
and sustainable way.

• Mohit Majumdar, Gujarat

30
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

Major challenges
One of the most common challenges for the eco clubs was a lack
of communication due to the technical glitchesc. While the Time management was a major challenge,
online mode seemed convenient given the pandemic, a lack as students were at their home and
of cell phones/devices as well as inappropriate technical organizing the webinar or meeting
guidance was a challenge they had to face throughout. was difficult due to non-availability of
all the Eco-club members.
Other eco clubs reported a lack of understanding in the
people they encountered during the campaigns, since there was
• Mohit Majumdar, Vadodara
paucity of awareness amongst them regarding plastic pollution
and harmful effects of single-use plastics. As one of the
interviewees pointed out, “while explaining to the locals how
to stop the use of single-use plastics, they were even more
keen to know why we can’t stop the manufacturing of the
plastic
itself”. Since schools were opened for limited
standards, less students joined Eco-clubs
and there was also lack of time for us to
A lot of eco clubs also identified time management as an issue.
engage students in the challenge due to
deadlines pertaining to syllabus
completion and other mandatory
school-level activities.

• Mohmad Ayaz Yunus

Kholvadiya, Gujarat

Feedback on the challenge format

Most of the eco clubs found the format easy and
understandable, and acknowledged the toolkit available in
various languages and presentations during webinars to be Students were very excited by doing the
very useful. challenge activities as they were very
interesting. The concept became of great
interest to them and that’s why they are
One of the coordinators suggested having a report/document of the so involved.
work done by other eco clubs as a reference and as motivation.

As the challenge engaged directly only with the coordinators, • Prabha Bhatt, Karnataka
one interviewee suggested more student training as well as
better establishment of connections between students and
teachers.

31
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

IX. CONCLUSION

First and foremost, our findings illustrate that there is a considerable demand among both students and young
professionals across the country for digital education programmes, with over 1.5 lakh participants enrolling
in the Tide Turner Challenge in 2021. It is evident that the current generation is getting more involved in finding
robust, long-lasting solutions to this crisis and is seeking out programmes that, not only educate them, but
support them in this venture.

The challenge has an attrition rate of 57%. While this is a considerable number, it is not unusual for open-source
online courses.The movement restrictions during the past year could have also contributed to lower completion.
Across participants who did complete the challenge, our responses reflect a high level of sustainability-related
knowledge, attitudes and practices. Most champion level participants have adopted sustainable habits into their
daily lives and are actively curbing plastic consumption. Though, it must be noted that these findings are self-
reported and lack a pre-programme assessment cannot definitely attribute the knowledge gained from the course
itself, as the participants who filled the survey may have already been pro-environment before the start of the
course. Nevertheless, there is ample evidence suggesting that pro-environmental behaviour is fairly high in the
participants, and the programme has played a role in positively impacting the behaviour of the community.

The findings also shed light on the nuanced impact of the programme on individuals and institutions in
developing a deeper understanding of the problem and giving them a platform to explore solutions. The eco
club analysis particularly goes to show how leaders from the remote areas of India are willing to learn, collaborate
and innovate, if they are given the right guidance and resources. Another takeaway is the importance of
includingthose from less privileged backgrounds and limited access to resources.

While this evaluation captures several key insights, an individual-level baseline and endline evaluation could
be incorporated into the challenge to be able to aptly attribute changes in knowledge and behaviour to the
programme.

32
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

X. WAY FORWARD

As we prepare for the next chapter of the Tide Turners Plastic Challenge, the report will be an invaluable resource
to design an even more rigorous and impactful programme, both in terms of the structure and evaluation. As
for the course structure, more community-driven programmes will interest participants even in the remotest
locations. To increase outreach, the medium of instruction should be expanded to incorporate major local
languages and the website navigation should be improved.

To increase the retention of participants, the programme will be made more diverse; incorporating more
on-ground activities, increased use of video-audio tools and more focused efforts in terms of target groups.

As for the eco clubs, it is imperative that the challenge is adapted to the ongoing curriculum and activities to
influence as many students as possible. To further invigorate the clubs, an annual virtual meet or report
presentation could promote accountability, innovation and collaborations.

Finally, the motive of the Tide Turner Challenge is not limited to introducing people to the subject of SUPs but to
inculcating values and practices that they can carry beyond the duration of the program. In order to
maintain this momentum, it is recommended that a platform or subsidiary programme be introduced to allow
youth champions to seek guidance from and collaborate with local experts, government authorities and NGOs in
their states.

33
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

REFERENCES

• Boulay, M., Storey, J. D., & Sood, S. (2002). Indirect exposure to a family planning mass en media
campaign in Nepal. Journal of health communication, 7(5), 379-399.

• Central Pollution Control Board (2018, March). Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Study of Plastics
Packaging Products. https://cpcb.nic.in/uploads/plasticwaste/LCA_Report_15.05.2018.pdfKadam,
P., & Bhalerao, S. (2010). Sample size calculation. International journal of Ayurveda research, 1(1), 55.

• Lindemann, N. (2019). What’s the average survey response rate?[2019 benchmark]. SurveyAnyplace
Blog. https://surveyanyplace. com/average-survey-response-rate/(accessed 6/23/2020).

• Procheş, Ş. (2016). Descriptive statistics in research and teaching: are we losing the middle ground?.
Quality & Quantity, 50(5), 2165-2174.

• Singh, S. (2020). ’Solid Waste Management In Urban India: Imperatives For Improvement’. Observer
Research Foundation.

• United Nations Environment Programme, Centre for Environment Education, and World Wide Fund
for Nature-India (2020). Tide Turners Plastic Challenge, India Toolkit https://tide-turners.org/assets/
Files/English%20Toolkit.pdf

• United Nations Environment Programme. (2020). Tide Turners Plastic Challenge Badge. https://www.
unep.org/explore-topics/education-environment/what-we-do/tide-turners-plastic-challenge-badge

• United Nations Environment Programme. (2020). The Tide Turners Plastic Challenge. https://www.
tide-turners.org/AboutUS

• World Health Organization. (2008). Advocacy, communication and social mobilization for TB
control: a guide to developing knowledge, attitude and practice surveys (No. WHO/HTM/STB/2008.46).
World Health Organization.

34
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

ANNEXURE

Champion-Level Participants Quantitative Survey

Knowledge
1. According to you, does plastic pollution remain localised to an area?
2. Do you know how many years it takes for plastic bottles to decompose?
3. Which of these contain plastic?
4. Which type of plastic can not be recycled?

Attitudes and practices

5. Do you think the programme shifted you to segregating plastic and biological waste at home?
6. When you go to the supermarket for shopping, what do you carry the produce in?
7. After the programme, did you switch to environmentally-friendly substitutes of common
household plastic goods?
8. If the answer to the above question is no, why?
9. Which practice have you started following after the programme?

Advocacy/outreach
10. Have you discussed sustainable and plastic-free ways of living with your friends/ peers?
11. You were asked to make educational materials on single-use plastics as part of the
challenge. Approximately how many people were you able to reach out to?
12. As part of the challenge, how many people could you engage with through your digital
campaign on plastics? (If you put posts/videos on social media, please report the number
of views)

Skill development
13. Do you think, apart from plastic awareness, the program helped you gain other skills?
14. If the answer of the questions above is yes, what was one major skill that you picked up?
(Multiple choice)

Program feedback
15. How do you think the programme can improve to increase your knowledge and
interest in plastic pollution?
16. How would you perform the challenge to be conducted once it is safe to step outside?
17. Would you prefer to take the challenge alone or would it be more interesting in a group?
18. Which task did you enjoy the most and would like to be re-introduced?

35
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

19. Did you face any technical issues with the website while completing the programme?
20. Did you find the instructions for performing the challenges to be clear?

Demographics
21. State your professional background
22. State your gender

Entry Level Participants Quantitative Survey

1. What would have encouraged you to move ahead with the programme?
2. Why could you not continue the programme?
3. Did you face any technical issues with the website while completing the programme?
4. Did you find the instructions for performing the challenges to be clear?
5. State your professional background
6. State your gender

Youth Champions Qualitative Interview

1. Details: Name, Age, Phone Number/ Email, City & Institution

2. What is the one big lesson that you learnt by getting involved in the TTC? What skills did you
acquire as part of the challenge
a. Leadership qualities(taking initiatives at neighbourhood/city level)
b. Graphic Design/Video editing
c. Public speaking (Educating and convincing people about plastic pollution)
d. Communication skills(Improved writing/oration skills, ability to communicate with
multiple people)
3. How did the challenge inspire you to change your attitude and behaviour?
4. What were the innovative solutions you came up with to tackle the issue of single-use
plastics?
5. What action did you take at the community level? What were the outcomes/impacts?
6. Will you be interested in further training to strengthen or carry forward the initiatives?
7. What were the major challenges faced by you to complete the programme as well as taking
action on the ground?
8. Was learning about single-use plastics through the online challenge helpful? How?
9. Is there any feedback on the format of the challenge?
10. If you were given a chance to design the Tide Turner Challenge 4 what activities will you
include or what would you do differently?

36
 TIDE TURNER PLASTIC CHALLENGE
IMPACT REPORT 2021

Eco-clubs Qualitative Interview

1. Details: Name, Phone Number/ email, City, State & Eco-club name
2. What is the one big lesson that you learnt with your involvement in the TTC?
3. Do you think the involvement of students in TTC was more as compared to the usual eco-
club activities?
4. Do you feel the online format of TTC was effective for students to learn about single-use
plastics? Why?
5. Was TTC able to add any new approaches or value in the way Eco-club functions? If yes,
what ?
6. What community outreach activity did students take up? Any innovative projects /activities
that could be highlighted?
7. What were the major challenges faced by you?
8. Feedbacks
• Did the reporting mechanisms and formats? work well?
• Were your resource requirements (toolkit, PPT etc) fulfilled? If not, what kind of
resources were needed?
9. Any additional learning/ inputs?

37
100%
RECYCLED