Modelling the Antecedents and Consequences of Young Consumers' Attitudes towards Items that Contain Microplastics

Year 2024, Volume: 1 Issue: 47, 114 - 132

İsmail Tamer Toklu

https://doi.org/10.35343/kosbed.1496670

Abstract

Plastics have become a serious threat to the natural environment and health due to the waste generated by their increasing use in recent years. The effect it will create on consumer behaviors has attracted the attention of researchers with the encounter of microplastics in consumer products. Awareness of plastic waste, health and environmental consciousness, and attitudes towards products containing microplastics were examined with the model created. Data collected from university students selected using the convenience sampling method with a web-based survey were analyzed with PLS-SEM. According to the findings obtained, awareness of plastic waste affects health consciousness, environmental consciousness, and attitudes towards products containing microplastics. Awareness also indirectly affects sustainable consumption intentions through health consciousness and environmental consciousness. Sustainable consumption intention affects the willingness to switch companies among consumers who are disturbed by microplastics. While attitude affects willingness to switch companies, it does not affect sustainable consumption intentions. While health consciousness and environmental consciousness directly affect sustainable consumption intention, they indirectly affect willingness to switch companies through sustainable consumption intention.

Keywords

Microplastics, Health Consciousness, Environmental Consciousness, Attitudes towards Microplastics, Sustainable Consumption Intention, Willingness to Switch Companies

Genç Tüketicilerin Mikro Plastik İçeren Ürünlere Yönelik Tutumunun Öncülleri Ve Ardıllarının Modellenmesi

Abstract

Plastikler son yıllarda artan kullanımı ile oluşan atıklar nedeniyle doğal çevre ve sağlık için önemli tehdit olmaya başlamıştır. Tüketici ürünlerinde mikroplastiğe rastlanması ile birlikte tüketici davranışlarında oluşturacağı etki araştırmacıların dikkatini çekmiştir. Oluşturulan model ile plastik atıklara yönelik farkındalığın sağlık ve çevre bilinci ile mikro plastik içeren ürünlere yönelik tutumu incelenmiştir. Kolayda örnekleme yöntemi kullanılarak seçilen üniversite öğrencilerinden web tabanlı anket ile toplanan veriler PLS-SEM ile analiz edilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgulara göre plastik atıklara yönelik farkındalık, sağlık bilinci, çevre bilinci ve mikro plastik içeren ürünlere yönelik tutumu etkilemektedir. Farkındalık aynı zamanda sürdürülebilir tüketim niyetini sağlık bilinci ve çevre bilinci aracılığı ile dolaylı yoldan etkilemektedir. Sürdürülebilir tüketim niyeti mikro plastiklerden rahatsız olan tüketicilerin işletmeleri değiştirme niyetini etkilemektedir. Tutum işletmeleri değiştirme niyetini etkilerken sürdürülebilir tüketim niyetini etkilememektedir. Sağlık bilinci ve çevre bilinci sürdürülebilir tüketim niyetini doğrudan etkilerken işletmeleri değiştirme niyetini dolaylı yoldan sürdürülebilir tüketim niyeti ile etkilemektedir.

Keywords

Mikroplastik, Sağlık Bilinci, Çevre Bilinci, Mikroplastiklere Yönelik Tutum, Sürdürülebilir Tüketim Niyeti, İşletmeleri Değiştirme Niyeti

References

• Afroz, R., Rahman, A., Masud, M.M. & Akhtar, R. (2017). The knowledge, awareness, attitude and motivational analysis of plastic waste and household perspective in Malaysia. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 24, 2304-2315.
• Akullian, A., Karp, C., Austin, K. & Durbin, D. (2006). Plastic bag externalities and policy in Rhode Island. Brown Policy Review Paper.
• Amelia, T.S.M., Khalik, W.M.A.W.M., Ong, M.C., Shao, Y.T., Pan, H.J. & Bhubalan, K. (2021). Marine microplastics as vectors of major ocean pollutants and its hazards to the marine ecosystem and humans. Progress in Earth and Planetary Science, 8(12), 1-26.
• Andrady, A.L. (2011). Microplastics in the marine environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62(8), 1596-1605
• Barboza, L.G.A., Vethaak, A.D., Lavorante, B.R., Lundebye, A.K., Guilhermino, L.(2018). Marine microplastic debris: an emerging issue for food security, food safety and human health. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 133, 336-348.
• Beitzen-Heineke, E.F., Balta-Ozkan, N. & Reefke, H. (2017). The prospects of zero-packaging grocery stores to improve the social and environmental impacts of the food supply chain. Journal of Cleaner Production, 140(3), 1528-1541.
• Borriello, A., Massey, G. & Rose, J.M. (2022). Extending the theory of planned behaviour to investigate the issue of microplastics in the marine environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 179, 113689.
• Bruner II, G.C. (2019). Marketing Scales Handbook, Multi-Item Measures for Consumer Insight Research, GCBII Productions, LLC, USA, Vol. 10, 519.
• Chen, S.C. & Hung, C.W. (2016). Elucidating the factors influencing the acceptance of green products: an extension of theory of planned behavior. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 112, 155-163.
• Cox, K.D., Covernton, G.A., Davies, H.L., Dower, J.F., Juanes, F. & Dudas, S.E. (2019). Human consumption of microplastics. Environmental Science & Technology, 53(12), 7068-7074.
• Cudjoe, D. & Wang, H. (2024). Public acceptance towards plastic waste-to-energy gasification projects: The role of social trust and health consciousness. Journal of Environmental Management, 356, 120737, 1-9.
• De-la-Torre, G.E. (2020). Microplastics: An emerging threat to food security and human health. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 57(5), 1601-1608.
• Deng, L., Cai, L., Sun, F., Li, G. & Che, Y. (2020). Public attitudes towards microplastics: Perceptions, behaviors and policy, implications. Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 163, 105096.
• Dowarah, K., Duarah, H. & Devipriya, S.P. (2022). A preliminary survey to assess the awareness, attitudes/behaviours, and opinions pertaining to plastic and microplastic pollution among students in India. Marine Policy, 144, 105220.
• Dumbili, E. & Henderson, L. (2020). The challenge of plastic pollution in Nigeria, in: Plastic Waste and Recycling, Academic Press, 569-583.
• Eastman, L.B., Nunez, P, Crettier, B. & Thiel, M. (2013). Identification of self-reported user behavior, education level, and preferences to reduce littering on beaches–a survey from the SE Pacific. Ocean & Coastal Management, 78, 18-24.
• Ehmke, M., Lusk, J. & Tyner, W. (2010). Multidimensional tests for economic behavior differences across cultures. The Journal of Socio-Economics, 39(1), 37-45.
• Ergen, A., Baykan, B. & Turan, S. (2015). Effect of materialism and environmental knowledge on environmental consciousness among high school students: a study conducted in Istanbul province. International Journal of Human Sciences, 12(1), 511-526.
• Fornell, C. & Larcker, D.F. (1981). Evaluating structural models with unobservables variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39-50.
• Ghosh, S., Sinha, J.K., Ghosh, S., Vashisth, K., Han, S. & Bhaskar, R. (2023). Microplastics as an Emerging Threat to the Global Environment and Human Health. Sustainability, 15(14), 10821.
• Goh, P.B., Pradit, S., Towatana, P., Khokkiatiwong, S., Kongket, B. & Moh, J.H.Z. (2021). Microplastic abundance in blood cockles and shrimps from Fishery market, Songkhla province, southern Thailand. Sains Malaysiana, 50(10), 2899-2911.
• Hair, J.F., Hult, G.T.M., Ringle, C.M. & Sarstedt, M. (2014). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). SAGE Publications.
• Hale, R.C., Seeley, M.E., La Guardia, M.J., Mai, L., & Zeng, E.Y. (2020). A Global Perspective on Microplastics. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 125, 1-40.
• Hammami, M.B.A., Mohammed, E.Q., Hashem, A.M., Al-Khafaji, M.A., Alqahtani, F., Alzaabi, S. & Dash, N. (2017). Survey on awareness and attitudes of secondary school students regarding plastic pollution: implications for environmental education and public health in Sharjah city, UAE. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 24(25), 20626-20633
• Han, C.M. (2017). Individualism, collectivism, and consumer animosity in emerging Asia: Evidence from Korea. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 34(4), 359-370.
• Henseler, J., Ringle, C.M. & Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modelling. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 43, 115-135.
• Joshi, Y., Sangroya, D., Srivastava, A.P. & Yadav, M. (2019). Modelling the predictors of young consumers' sustainable consumption intention. International Journal of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Marketing, 24, 1-14.
• Kautish, P., Paul, J. & Sharma, R. (2019). The moderating influence of environmental consciousness and recycling intentions on green purchase behavior. Journal of Cleaner Production, 228, 1425-1436.
• Kautish, P. & Sharma, R. (2020). Determinants of pro-environmental behavior and environmentally conscious consumer behavior: An empirical investigation from emerging market. Business Strategy & Development, 3(1), 112-127.
• Kollmuss, A. & Agyeman, J. (2002). Mind the Gap: Why do people act environmentally and what are the barriers to pro-environmental behavior? Environmental Education Research, 8(3), 239-260.
• Korhonen, J., Honkasalo, A. & Seppaelae, J. (2018). Circular economy: the concept and its limitations. Ecological Economics, 143, 37-46.
• Lucarelli, C., Mazzoli, C. & Severini, S. (2020). Applying the theory of planned behavior to examine pro-environmental behavior: the moderating effect of COVID-19 beliefs. Sustainability, 12(24), 1-17.
• Magnier, L. & Schoormans, J. (2015). Consumer reactions to sustainable packaging: the interplay of visual appearance, verbal claim and environmental concern. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 44, 53-62.
• Masud, M.M., Akhtar, R., Afroz, R., Al-Amin, A.Q. & Kari, F.B. (2015) Proenvironmental behavior and public understanding of climate change. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 20(4), 591-600.
• Moon, C.K., Travaglino, G.A. & Uskul, A.K. (2018). Social value orientation and endorsement of horizontal and vertical individualism and collectivism: An exploratory study comparing individuals from north America and South Korea. Frontiers in Psychology, 9: 2262, 1-12.
• Moon, D.W., Wang, H.H. & Hao, N. (2023). Consumer behavior in choosing microplastic contaminated seafood across different countries: The role of cultural and attitudinal factors. Economic Analysis and Policy, 78, 290-306.
• Nagaraj, S. (2021). Role of consumer health consciousness, food safety & attitude on organic food purchase in emerging market: A serial mediation model. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 59, 10242.
• Nisbet, E.K.L. & Gick, M.L. (2008). Can health psychology help the planet? Applying theory and models of health behaviour to environmental actions. Canadian Psychology / Psychologie Canadienne, 49(4), 296-303.
• Oleksiuk, K., Krupa-Kotara, K., Wypych-Slusarska, A., Głogowska-Ligus, J., Spychała, A. & Słowinski, J. (2022). Microplastic in food and water: Current knowledge and awareness of consumers. Nutrients, 14(22), 4857.
• Palacios-González, M.M. & Chamorro-Mera, A. (2020). Analysis of socially responsible consumption: A segmentation of spanish consumers. Sustainability, 12(20), 8418.
• Phipps, M., Ozanne, L.K., Luchs, M.G., Subrahmanyan, S., Kapitan, S., Catlin, J.R. & Weaver, T. (2013). Understanding the inherent complexity of sustainable consumption: A social cognitive framework. Journal of Business Research, 66(8), 1227-1234.
• Plastics Europe (2022). Plastics–the fast Facts 2023 https://plasticseurope.org/knowledge-hub/plastics-the-fast-facts-2023/
• Prakash, G., Singh, P.K. & Yadav, R. (2018). Application of consumer style inventory (CSI) to predict young Indian consumer’s intention to purchase organic food products. Food Quality and Preference, 68, 90-97.
• Raab, P. & Bogner, F.X. (2021). Knowledge acquisition and environmental values in a microplastic learning module: Does the learning environment matter? Studies in Educational Evaluation, 71, 101091, 1-11.
• Rhein, S. & Schmid, M. (2020). Consumers’ awareness of plastic packaging: More than just environmental concerns. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 162, 105063.
• Rousseau, G.G. & Venter, D.J.L. (1992). Measuring identified criteria of consumer awareness for various demographic categories amongst two independent samples. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, 18(3), 18-24.
• Soares, J., Miguel, I., Venancio, C., Lopes, I. & Oliveira, M. (2021). Public views on plastic pollution: knowledge, perceived impacts, and pro-environmental behaviours. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 412, 125227.
• Sun, Y., Wang, S., Li, J., Zhao, D. & Fan, J. (2017). Understanding consumers’ intention to use plastic bags: using an extended theory of planned behaviour model. Natural Hazards, 89(3), 1327-1342.
• Tobler, C., Visschers, V.H.M. & Siegrist, M. (2011). Eating green. Consumers’ willingness to adopt ecological food consumption behaviors. Appetite, 57(3), 674-682
• Tsarenko, Y., Ferraro, C., Sands, S. & McLeod, C. (2013). Environmentally conscious consumption: the role of retailers and peers as external influences. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 20(3), 302-310.
• Wang, J., Pham, T.L. & Dang, V.T. (2020). Environmental consciousness and organic food purchase intention: a moderated mediation model of perceived food quality and price sensitivity. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 17, 850, 1-18.
• Webb, D.J., Mohr, L.A. & Harris, K.E. (2008). A re-examination of socially responsible consumption and its measurement. Journal of Business Research, 61(2), 91-98.
• Zelezny, L.C. & Schultz, P.W. (2000). Promoting environmentalism. Journal of Social Issues, 56(3), 365-371.