Project Objectives and Scope
The phased ban of single-use plastics, such as plastic bags, straws and styrofoam by the Government of Jamaica has created a new industry and an opportunity for businesses to provide alternatives to these products. The scope of this LBP29/19 Live Business Project involves the identification and testing of suitable products, and development of a market entry strategy for a viable but environmentally sustainable alternative to single-use plastic straws with a view towards expansion into alternatives to styrofoam packages.
The overarching hypothesis for the project states that “the current alternative to plastic straws in the Jamaican market, in the form of paper, is undesirable to the general public, as they modify the taste of the beverage being consumed and tend to disintegrate within a short period of time”. This project will involve testing this hypothesis, as well as determining the openness/ acceptance of the Jamaican public to a bioplastic alternative and providing a business case for the manufacturing or distribution of a suitable alternative. Primary sources of data for analysis will include interviews with current players in the market, interviews with companies displaced by the plastic ban and the general public. Straws are most likely to be used outside of the home and as such the target market for the product will be restaurants, bars, hotels, schools, cafes, street vendors, supermarkets and restaurant suppliers. However, it will be important to determine the views of the public as they will be the primary consumer of the product. Secondary sources of data for analysis will include legislation, regulations, newspaper articles, research articles and case studies that examine plastic bans (including those in other jurisdictions) and informal institutions of Jamaica and other countries that have transitioned away from single-use plastics.
Some key deliverables of this project will include an Executive Summary, Business Description and Mission Statement, Pros and Cons of the Bioplastic selected, Market Entry Strategy, Competitor Analysis, SWOT Analysis, Operations Overview (Production, HR including required expertise and Supply Chain) and a Financial Plan. These deliverables will provide an outline of the issue, anticipated outcomes, recommendations for growth of the business and the newly created industry and a justification for the business start-up.

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