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Do Consumers Really Want to Reduce Plastic Usage? Exploring the Determinants of Plastic Avoidance in Food-Related Consumption Decisions

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  • Alessia Cavaliere

    (Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Silvia Pigliafreddo

    (Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Elisa De Marchi

    (Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Alessandro Banterle

    (Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy)

Abstract

The mass production and use of plastics over the past decades is now posing a threat to the environment due to increasing pollution. The industrial transition towards more sustainable plastic alternatives has already started, but the process will require years to become truly feasible from an industrial and economic standpoint. In the meantime, a significant contribution to limit plastic-related environmental impact could arise from consumers’ daily consumption choices. This study aims at investigating the determinants of consumers’ decision to avoid purchasing single-use plastic eating utensils, food products with multiple plastic packaging, and plastic water bottles while grocery shopping. The results of the Structural Equation Model reveal that environment- and health-related concerns associated with plastics are key drivers of plastic avoidance. Instead, subjective knowledge and the importance attached to the commitment of third parties for tackling the plastic issue only indirectly affect consumer behaviors with regard to plastic avoidance.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessia Cavaliere & Silvia Pigliafreddo & Elisa De Marchi & Alessandro Banterle, 2020. "Do Consumers Really Want to Reduce Plastic Usage? Exploring the Determinants of Plastic Avoidance in Food-Related Consumption Decisions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-15, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:22:p:9627-:d:447208
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Luc Van Ootegem & Elsy Verhofstadt & Bart Defloor & Brent Bleys, 2022. "The Effect of COVID-19 on the Environmental Impact of Our Lifestyles and on Environmental Concern," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-14, July.
    2. Mikah O. Oliver & Iva Jestratijevic & James Uanhoro & Dee K. Knight, 2023. "Investigation of a Consumer’s Purchase Intentions and Behaviors towards Environmentally Friendly Grocery Packaging," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, May.
    3. Zoe Gareiou & Christina Chroni & Karolos Kontoleon & Makram El Bachawati & Marianne Saba & Ruth Herrero Martin & Efthimios Zervas, 2022. "Awareness of Citizens for the Single-Use Plastics: Comparison between a High-Income and an Upper-Middle-Income Economy of the Easter Mediterranean Region, Greece and Lebanon," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-35, February.
    4. Muhammad Zafar Yaqub & Rana Muhammad Shahid Yaqub & Tahira Riaz & Hani Abdulrehman Alamri, 2023. "Prolificacy of Green Consumption Orientation and Environmental Knowledge to Slash Plastic Bag Consumption: The Moderating Role of Consumer Attitudes and the Demarketing Efforts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-15, June.
    5. 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.
    6. C. Andrea Bruce Clayton, 2021. "Building Collective Ownership of Single-Use Plastic Waste in Youth Communities: A Jamaican Case Study," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-16, October.
    7. Kateryna Lysenko-Ryba & Dominik Zimon, 2021. "Customer Behavioral Reactions to Negative Experiences during the Product Return," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-14, January.

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