Journal Screenshot

International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Open Access Journal

ISSN: 2222-6990

Determinants of Using Alternative to Single-Use Plastic Bags

Norzalina Zainudin, Wai Yi Qi, Jasmine Leby Lau, Zubaidah Harun, Nurkaliza Khalid

http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v11-i11/11659

Open access

The environmental tax has been used as an effective tool in achieving desired behaviour changes. This paper evaluates the factors that contribute to the usage of alternatives to the use of single-use plastic bags after the implementation of 20 cents charge on the plastic used by the government of Malaysia. The sample size of 200 respondents in Bangi and Putrajaya was chosen by using convenience sampling with face-to-face questionnaires. The data then were analysed using descriptive analysis (SPSS) and structural equation model (SEM) with AMOS. The result indicates that 76 percent of consumers are willing to use an alternative to plastic bags, such as using their own shopping bag or trolley. Analysis SEM found a 20 cents charge on plastic bag use and subjective norms have significant influence on the use of an alternative to a single-use plastic bag. These findings contribute to the strengthening of the instruments capable of producing behavioural changes at a minimal cost. Therefore, market-based instrument as a 20 cents tax on the plastic used for pollution control and natural resource management is an increasingly important part of environmental policy tools in Malaysia and there is high potential in their use and effectiveness.

Ajzen, I. (1985). From intentions to actions: A theory of planned behavior. In J. Kuhl & J. Beckmann (Eds.), Action control from cognition to behaviour. hlm 11-39. Berlin, Germany: Springer.
Akulian, A., Karp, C., Austin, K., & Durbin, D. (2006). Plastic bag externalities and policy in Rhode Island. Environmental & Resource Economics, 38, 1–11.
Ari, E., & Yilmaz, V. (2016). Consumer attitudes on the use of plastic and cloth bags. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 19(4), pp.1219-1234.
Arslan, T., Y?lmaz, V., & Aksoy, H. K. (2012). Structural equation model environmentally conscious purchasing behavior. International Journal of Environmental Research, 6(1), 323–334.
Asmuni, S., Hussin, N., Khalili, M. J., & Zain, M. Z. (2015). Public Participation and Effectiveness of the No Plastic Bag Day Program in Malaysia. Procedia – Social and Behavior Science 168. Pg 328-340.
Azemi, A., Palil, M. R., Amir, M. A., & Said, M. S. (2019). Cukai Alam Sekitar: Pelaksanaan, Penjagaan Alam Sekitar dan Sistem Cukai yang cekap. BITARA International Journal of Civilizational Studies and Human Sciences. Vol 2, Issue 4.
Baker, A. R. (2010). Fees on plastic bags: Altering consumer behavior by taxing environmentally damaging choices. Expresso. http://works.bepress.com/alicebaker
Bamberg, S. (2003). How does environmental concern influence specific environmentally related behaviors? A new answer to an old question. Journal of Environmental Psychology. Vol. 23 No. 1, pp. 21-32.
Chan, R. Y. K., Wong, Y. H., & Leung, T. K. P. (2007). Applying ethical concepts to the study of “green” consumer behavior: An analysis of Chinese consumers’ intentions to bring their own shopping bags. Journal of Business Ethics, 79(4), 469-481.
Convery, F., McDonnell, S., & Ferreira, S. (2007). The most popular tax in Europe? Lessons from the Irish plastic bags levy. Environmental and Resource Economics, 38(1), 1-11.
Fishbein, M. (1967). Attitude and the prediction of behaviour. In M. Fishbein (Ed.), Readings in attitude theory and measurement. New York, NY John Wiley & Sons. 477-492.
Fishbein, M., & Ajzen, I. (1975). Belief, Attitude, Intention and Behaviour: An Introduction to Theory and Research, MA: Addison-Wesley.
Hong, L. C. (2011). Environmental tax laws in Malaysia today. Malaysian Accountancy Research and Education (MAREF) Review, 1(2), 9–10.
Hurriyet. (2015). It is being forbidden to use plastic bag in European Union Countries. http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com
Jakovcevic, A., Steg, L., Mazzeo, N., Caballero, R., Franco, P., Putrino, N., & Favara, J. (2014). Charges for plastic bags: Motivational and behavioral effects. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 40, pp.372-380.
Kalafatis, S., Pollard, M., East, R., & Tsogas, M. H. (1999). Green marketing and Ajzen’s theory of planned behaviour: a cross-market examination. Journal of Consumer Marketing. Vol. 16 No. 5, pp. 441-60.
Kamaruddin, R., & Yusuf, M. (2012). Selangor Government's ‘No plastic Bag Day’ Campaign: Motivation and Acceptance Level. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 42, pp.205-211.
Kuppusamy, M., & Gharleghi, B. (2015). ‘No Plastic Bag Day’ Concept and Its Role in Malaysian’s Environmental Behaviour Development. Asian Social Science, 11(18).
Martinho, G., Balaia, N., & Pires, A. (2017). The Portuguese plastic carrier bag tax: The effects on consumers’ behavior. Waste Management, 61, pp.3-12.
MESTECC. (2018). Malaysia Roadmap Towards Zero Single-Use Plastics 2018-2030. Towards a sustainable future. Ministry of Energy, Science, technology, Environment & Climate Change Malaysia.
Muthu, S. S., Li, Y., Hu, J. Y., & Mok, P. Y. (2011). Carbon footprint of shopping (grocery) bags in China, Hong Kong and India Atmospheric Environment, 45 (2) (2011), pp. 469-475
Ohtomo, S., & Hirose, Y. (2007). The dual-process of reactive and international decision-making involved in eco-friendly behavior. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 27, 117–125
Park, J. (2009). The search for an other way to shop. Packaging News(FEB.), pp. 28–29.
Poortinga, W., Sautkina, E., Thomas, G. O., & Wolstenholme, E. (2016). The English plastic bag charge: Changes in attitudes and behaviour. Cardiff: Welsh School of Architecture/School of Psychology, Cardiff University.
Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2013). Research Methods for Business: A Skill-Building Approach. 6th ed. John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Somanathan, R., & Gupta, K. (2009). Understanding the consumer demand for plastic bags in India- evidence from an experiment in Delhi. Delhi School of Economics.
Soares, C. D., Milne, J. E., Ashiabor, H., Kreiser, L., & Deketelaere, K. (2010). Critical Issues in Environmental Taxation. International and Comparative Perspective Vollume VIII. Oxford University Press. New York.
Siddique, R., Khatip, J., & Kaur, I. (2008). Use of recycled plastic in concrete: A review. Waste Management, 28, 1835–1852.
Sudarmadi, S., Suzuki, S., Kawada, T., Netti, H., Soemantri, S., & Tugaswati, A. T. (2001). A survey of perception, knowledge, awareness, and attitude in regard to environmental problems in a sample of two different social groups in Jakarta. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 3, 169–183.
The Star. (2019). Ensuring accountability in 20sen plastic bag charge. https://www.thestar. com.my/ metro/metro-news/2019/11/01/
UNEP. (2018). Single-use plastics: A Roadmap for Sustainability.
World Bank Institute. (2008). Improving Municipal Solid Waste Management in India: A Source-book for Policy Makers and Practitioners, Washington, D.C.: World Bank.
WRAP. (2015). WRAP announces new carrier bag figures. 24th July 2015. Banbury: Waste and Resources Action Plan.
Zen, I. S., Ahamad, R., & Omar, W. (2013). No plastic bag campaign day in Malaysia and the policy implication. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 15(5), 1259–1269.

In-Text Citation: (Zainudin et al., 2021)
To Cite this Article: Zainudin, N., Qi, W. Y., Lau, J. L., Harun, Z., & Khalid, N. (2021). Determinants of Using Alternative to Single-Use Plastic Bags. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11(11), 1753–1766.