GreenLens AR: A Wearable Augmented Reality Application for Enhancing 5R Plastic Waste Education

Rimaniza Zainal Abidin, Ka Bou Gao, Rosilah Hassan
dx.doi.org/10.17576/apjitm-2025-1402-20

Abstract

Plastic pollution remains one of the most persistent global environmental challenges due to the use of non-biodegradable materials. Although various educational campaigns have been implemented to promote sustainable waste practices, public awareness and participation remain limited. This study introduces GreenLensAR, a wearable Augmented Reality (AR) application designed to enhance environmental awareness and encourage behavioral change through the 5R principles (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Recover). The application leverages Microsoft HoloLens 2 and the Mixed Reality Toolkit (MRTK) to deliver an interactive and immersive learning experience that simulates real-world plastic pollution scenarios. A total of 15 participants were involved in assessing Perceived Usefulness (PU), Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) and Behavioral Intention (BI). The results revealed strong user acceptance, with average scores of PU = 4.50, PEOU = 4.42 and BI = 4.60, indicating high levels of engagement and educational effectiveness. These findings suggest that wearable AR technology has significant potential to enhance environmental learning outcomes, promote sustainable waste management practices and support the integration of immersive tools in sustainability education.

keyword

Augmented Reality (AR); 5R Principles; Plastic Waste Education; Sustainability; Wearable Technology; Environmental Awareness

Area

Visual Informatics