IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bcp/journl/v9y2025i14p141-149.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Eco-Conscious Choices: The Role of Environmental Concern and Economic Condition in Reducing Plastic Waste

Author

Listed:
  • Nor Syamaliah Ngah

    (Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies, UiTM Seremban Campus, Negeri Sembilan)

  • Norazlin Abd Aziz

    (Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies, UiTM Seremban Campus, Negeri Sembilan)

  • Azlina Mohd Hussain

    (Faculty of Law, UiTM Seremban Campus, Negeri Sembilan)

Abstract

This study investigates the moderating role of economic conditions in the relationship between environmental concern and plastic purchasing behavior. Grounded in the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, the research posits that individuals are motivated to protect valued ecological resources, which influences their consumer choices. A sample of 400 respondents was analysed using hierarchical regression to explore the interaction between environmental concerns and economic conditions on plastic consumption. The results reveal a significant positive correlation between environmental concern and plastic purchasing behavior, with stronger effects observed among consumers in higher economic conditions. The interaction analysis indicates that economic condition moderates this relationship, suggesting that while individuals with high environmental concerns are likely to reduce plastic consumption, this tendency is amplified in higher economic contexts. Conversely, among lower-income consumers, financial constraints weaken the influence of environmental concerns on purchasing decisions. These findings underscore the necessity of addressing economic barriers to foster sustainable consumer behavior. Policies and marketing strategies should be tailored to consider economic factors, such as providing financial incentives and subsidies for eco-friendly products, to encourage lower-income consumers to act on their environmental values. By highlighting the interplay between economic conditions and environmental concerns, this research contributes valuable insights for developing effective interventions aimed at reducing plastic pollution and promoting sustainable consumption across diverse socioeconomic groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Nor Syamaliah Ngah & Norazlin Abd Aziz & Azlina Mohd Hussain, 2025. "Eco-Conscious Choices: The Role of Environmental Concern and Economic Condition in Reducing Plastic Waste," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(14), pages 141-149, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:i:14:p:141-149
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/Digital-Library/volume-9-issue-14/141-149.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/articles/eco-conscious-choices-the-role-of-environmental-concern-and-economic-condition-in-reducing-plastic-waste/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Saari, Ulla A. & Damberg, Svenja & Frömbling, Lena & Ringle, Christian M., 2021. "Sustainable consumption behavior of Europeans: The influence of environmental knowledge and risk perception on environmental concern and behavioral intention," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    2. Naveed Ahmed & Cai Li & Asadullah Khan & Sikandar Ali Qalati & Shumaila Naz & Faisal Rana, 2021. "Purchase intention toward organic food among young consumers using theory of planned behavior: role of environmental concerns and environmental awareness," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 64(5), pages 796-822, April.
    3. N. P. Hariram & K. B. Mekha & Vipinraj Suganthan & K. Sudhakar, 2023. "Sustainalism: An Integrated Socio-Economic-Environmental Model to Address Sustainable Development and Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-37, July.
    4. Xiuting Wang & Idrees Waris & Muhammad Yaseen Bhutto & Haowei Sun & Irfan Hameed, 2022. "Green Initiatives and Environmental Concern Foster Environmental Sustainability: A Study Based on the Use of Reusable Drink Cups," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-16, July.
    5. Zhicheng Zeng & Wenjun Zhong & Shumaila Naz, 2023. "Can Environmental Knowledge and Risk Perception Make a Difference? The Role of Environmental Concern and Pro-Environmental Behavior in Fostering Sustainable Consumption Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-23, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ashish Ashok Uikey & Zericho Marak & Dhoha Alsaleh & Ruturaj Baber, 2024. "Decoding Intentions to Purchase Organic Food Products in an Emerging Economy via Artificial Neural Networks," Post-Print hal-04861233, HAL.
    2. Ulph, Alistair & Panzone, Luca & Hilton, Denis, 2023. "Do rational people sometimes act irrationally? A dynamic self-regulation model of sustainable consumer behavior," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    3. Asuamah Yeboah, Samuel, 2023. "Sustaining Change: Unravelling the Socio-cultural Threads of Sustainable Consumption," MPRA Paper 117981, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 10 Jun 2023.
    4. Sara Sousa & Elisabete Correia & Clara Viseu, 2024. "Exploring Portuguese Consumers’ Behavior Regarding Sustainable Wine: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-22, October.
    5. RUS Adina-Viorica & BUCUR Louisa-Maria, 2024. "The Socio-Economic-Environmental Triangle: Quantitative Analysis of Interdependencies in European Union," European Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Bucharest Economic Academy, issue 01, March.
    6. Faustine Régnier & Anne-Laure Dalstein & Clémence Rouballay & Louis Chauvel, 2022. "Eating in Season—A Lever of Sustainability? An Interview Study on the Social Perception of Seasonal Consumption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-23, April.
    7. Wei Zheng & Hongliang Qiu & Alastair M. Morrison, 2023. "Applying a Combination of SEM and fsQCA to Predict Tourist Resource-Saving Behavioral Intentions in Rural Tourism: An Extension of the Theory of Planned Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-23, January.
    8. Grechyna, Daryna, 2025. "Raising awareness of climate change: Nature, activists, politicians?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    9. Svenja Damberg & Ulla A. Saari & Morgane Fritz & Vytaute Dlugoborskyte & Katerina Božič, 2024. "Consumers' purchase behavior of Cradle to Cradle Certified® products—The role of trust and supply chain transparency," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(8), pages 8280-8299, December.
    10. Khalid Mehmood & Fauzia Jabeen & Shilpa Iyanna & Hui Zhang & Patrice Piccardi & Nagendra Singh Nehra, 2024. "Exploring drivers of behavioral willingness to reduce plastic consumption and socially responsible consumption behavior: A stimulus–organism–behavior–consequence paradigm based environmental managemen," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(4), pages 3098-3118, July.
    11. Cheng-Wen Lee & Hsiu-Hua Hung, 2024. "The Impact of Education on Consumers’ Eco-Friendly Shopping Habits towards Sustainable Purchases: Evidence from Indonesia and Taiwan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-30, October.
    12. Chaeyoung Lim & Jongchang Ahn, 2021. "Social Overload and Discontinuance Intention on Facebook: A Comparative Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-17, November.
    13. Zhang, Dengjun & Xie, Yifan, 2022. "Customer environmental concerns and profit margin: Evidence from manufacturing firms," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    14. Yongliang Yang & Yuting Zhu & Xiaopeng Wang & Yi Li, 2022. "The Perception of Environmental Information Disclosure on Rural Residents’ Pro-Environmental Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-22, June.
    15. Monica Laura Zlati & Angelica Buboi (Danaila) & Costinela Fortea & Alina Meca & Valentin Marian Antohi, 2024. "Studying Regional Disparities at European Level with a View to Achieving Climate Neutrality Objectives," Economics and Applied Informatics, "Dunarea de Jos" University of Galati, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, issue 3, pages 361-373.
    16. Arthur Filipe de Araújo & Isabel Andrés-Marques & Lorenza López Moreno, 2025. "No Planet-B Attitudes: The Main Driver of Gen Z Travelers’ Willingness to Pay for Sustainable Tourism Destinations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-23, January.
    17. Camila Kolling & José Luis Duarte Ribeiro & Donato Morea & Gianpaolo Iazzolino, 2023. "Corporate social responsibility and circular economy from the perspective of consumers: A cross‐cultural analysis in the cosmetic industry," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(3), pages 1226-1243, May.
    18. Aybike Bayraktar & Georgios Kleftodimos & Leonidas Sotirios Kyrgiakos & Christina Kleisiari & George Vlontzos & Hatem Belhouchette, 2024. "Assessing climate change awareness among Mediterranean university students: a comparative study of French and Greek universities," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 14(4), pages 666-680, December.
    19. Maduku, Daniel K., 2024. "How environmental concerns influence consumers’ anticipated emotions towards sustainable consumption: The moderating role of regulatory focus," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    20. Nurjanana Nurjanana & Dio Caisar Darma & Suparjo Suparjo & Andriawan Kustiawan & Wasono Wasono, 2025. "Two-Way Causality Between Economic Growth and Environmental Quality: Scale in the New Capital of Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-22, February.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:i:14:p:141-149. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Dr. Pawan Verma (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.