Stimulation of Purchase Behavior Toward Biodegradable Bags: The Role of Green Skepticism

Le Nguyen, Nguyen Thi Lien Hoa

Abstract


Today, the habit of using light, durable, and disposable plastics that are poorly managed is one of the main reasons for environmental pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change in Vietnam. Besides, due to the lack of consumption, most plastic companies in Vietnam refuse to switch their production to biodegradable plastic bags. The study is conducted to promote the purchase behavior of biodegradable plastic bags, which can reduce the consumption of non-degradable plastic in Vietnam. A non-probability sampling method was applied, with a sample size of 828 consumers who lived in Southeast Vietnam. SmartPLS software was applied to examine the hypotheses. The results show that attitudes, coping appraisal, and threat positively influence the purchase behavior of biodegradable plastic bags. Green skepticism negatively moderates the relationship between attitudes, coping appraisal, threat appraisal, and purchase intention toward biodegradable plastic bags. This study also added psychological factors, such as green skepticism, to fill the perception-behavior gap from previous studies and extend the protection-motivation theory. Some managerial implications will be proposed for plastic companies in Vietnam to switch their production toward biodegradable plastic bags. Besides, consumers will also be given guidance and encouragement to use these products through integrated marketing communication strategies.

 

Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2024-08-03-04

Full Text: PDF


Keywords


Coping Appraisal; Threat Appraisal; Attitudes; SmartPLS; Green Skepticism; Biodegradable Plastic Bag.

References


United Nations. (2022). The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022. United Nations Statistics Division, Development Data and Outreach Branch, United Nations, New York, United States.

United Nations Environment Programme. (2023). Turning off the Tap. How the world can end plastic pollution and create a circular economy. United nations, New York, United States.

Ngân, H. (2023). Join hands to reduce single-use plastic products at supermarkets and shopping centers. Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade. Available online: https://moit.gov.vn/bao-ve-moi-truong/chung-tay-giam-thieu-san-pham-nhua-su-dung-mot-lan-tai-cac-sieu-thi-va-trung-tam-thuong-mai.html#:~:text=Trong năm 2022%2C sản lượng,sinh của rác thải nhựa (accessed on April 2024). (In Vietnamese).

World Population Review. (2024). Plastic Pollution by Country 2023. World Population Review, Walnut, United States.

Kieu-Le, T. C., Thuong, Q. T., Truong, T. N. S., Le, T. M. T., Tran, Q. V., & Strady, E. (2023). Baseline concentration of microplastics in surface water and sediment of the northern branches of the Mekong River Delta, Vietnam. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 187, 114605. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114605.

Makarchev, N., Xiao, C., Yao, B., Zhang, Y., Tao, X., & Le, D. A. (2022). Plastic consumption in urban municipalities: Characteristics and policy implications of Vietnamese consumers’ plastic bag use. Environmental Science & Policy, 136, 665–674. doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2022.07.015.

Chi, K. (2019). Vietnam has few biodegradable-plastic producers. VietNamNet Global, Hanoi, Vietnam. Available online: https://vietnamnet.vn/en/vietnam-has-few-biodegradable-plastic-producers-532274.html (accessed on April 2024).

Hanoitimes. (2019). Biodegradable bags in Vietnam and barriers. VietNamNet Global, Hanoi, Vietnam. Available online: https://vietnamnet.vn/en/biodegradable-bags-in-vietnam-and-barriers-542300.html (accessed on May 2024).

Ajzen, I. (1985). From Intentions to Actions: A Theory of Planned Behavior. Action Control. SSSP Springer Series in Social Psychology. Springer, Berlin, Germany. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-69746-3_2.

Fishbein, M., & Ajzen, I. (1977). Belief, attitude, intention, and behavior: An introduction to theory and research. Philosophy and Rhetoric 10 (2):130-132.

Joshi, Y., & Rahman, Z. (2015). Factors Affecting Green Purchase Behaviour and Future Research Directions. International Strategic Management Review, 3(1–2), 128–143. doi:10.1016/j.ism.2015.04.001.

Rogers, R. W. (1975). A Protection Motivation Theory of Fear Appeals and Attitude Change1. The Journal of Psychology, 91(1), 93–114. doi:10.1080/00223980.1975.9915803.

Bartikowski, B., Laroche, M., & Richard, M. O. (2019). A content analysis of fear appeal advertising in Canada, China, and France. Journal of Business Research, 103, 232–239. doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.01.049.

Cox, D. N., Koster, A., & Russell, C. G. (2004). Predicting intentions to consume functional foods and supplements to offset memory loss using an adaptation of protection motivation theory. Appetite, 43(1), 55–64. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2004.02.003.

Liu, Y., & Li, X. (2021). Pro-Environmental Behavior Predicted by Media Exposure, SNS Involvement, and Cognitive and Normative Factors. Environmental Communication, 15(7), 954–968. doi:10.1080/17524032.2021.1922479.

Ibrahim, H., & Al-Ajlouni, M. M. Q. (2018). Sustainable consumption. Management Decision, 56(3), 610–633. doi:10.1108/md-05-2016-0323.

Chen, M. F. (2020). Moral extension of the protection motivation theory model to predict climate change mitigation behavioral intentions in Taiwan. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27(12), 13714–13725. doi:10.1007/s11356-020-07963-6.

18-Almarshad, S. O. (2017). Adopting Sustainable Behavior in Institutions of Higher Education: A Study on Intentions of Decision Makers in the Mena Region. European Journal of Sustainable Development, 6(2), 89–110. doi:10.14207/ejsd.2017.v6n2p89.

Pang, S. M., Tan, B. C., & Lau, T. C. (2021). Antecedents of consumers’ purchase intention towards organic food: Integration of theory of planned behavior and protection motivation theory. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(9), 5218. doi:10.3390/su13095218.

Tan, B. C., Pang, S. M., & Lau, T. C. (2022). Marketing Organic Food from Millennials’ Perspective: A Multi-Theoretical Approach. Foods, 11(18), 2721. doi:10.3390/foods11182721.

Deliana, Y., & Rum, I. A. (2019). How does perception on green environment across generations affect consumer behaviour? A neural network process. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 43(4), 358–367. doi:10.1111/ijcs.12515.

Zarei, A., & Maleki, F. (2018). From Decision to Run: The Moderating Role of Green Skepticism. Journal of Food Products Marketing, 24(1), 96–116. doi:10.1080/10454446.2017.1266548.

Uddin, S. M. F., Khan, M. N., Faisal, M. N., & Kirmani, M. D. (2023). Demystifying the green purchasing behavior of young consumers: Moderating role of green skepticism. Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science, 33(2), 264–284. doi:10.1080/21639159.2022.2163415.

Floyd, D. L., Prentice-Dunn, S., & Rogers, R. W. (2000). A meta-analysis of research on protection motivation theory. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 30(2), 407–429. doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2000.tb02323.x.

Cismaru, M., & Lavack, A. M. (2006). Marketing communications and protection motivation theory: Examining consumer decision-making. International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, 3(2), 9–24. doi:10.1007/bf02893617.

Taheri-Kharameh, Z., Bashirian, S., Heidarimoghadam, R., Poorolajal, J., Barati, M., & Rásky, É. (2020). Predictors of fall protective behaviors among Iranian community-dwelling older adults: An application of the protection motivation theory. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 15, 123–129. doi:10.2147/CIA.S224224.

Byrd, K., Her, E. S., Fan, A., Liu, Y., & Leitch, S. (2022). Consumers’ threat and coping appraisals of in-restaurant dining during a pandemic – The moderating roles of conflicting information and trust-in-science and scientists. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 103, 103186. doi:10.1016/j.ijhm.2022.103186.

van Zomeren, M., Spears, R., & Leach, C. W. (2010). Experimental evidence for a dual pathway model analysis of coping with the climate crisis. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30(4), 339–346. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2010.02.006.

Bockarjova, M., & Steg, L. (2014). Can Protection Motivation Theory predict pro-environmental behavior? Explaining the adoption of electric vehicles in the Netherlands. Global Environmental Change, 28(1), 276–288. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2014.06.010.

Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211. doi:10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T.

Madden, T. J., Ellen, P. S., & Ajzen, I. (1992). A Comparison of the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Theory of Reasoned Action. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 18(1), 3–9. doi:10.1177/0146167292181001.

Ajzen, I. (2002). Perceived behavioral control, self-efficacy, locus of control, and the theory of planned behavior. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 32(4), 665–683. doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2002.tb00236.x.

Cachero-Martínez, S. (2020). Consumer Behaviour towards Organic Products: The Moderating Role of Environmental Concern. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 13(12), 330. doi:10.3390/jrfm13120330.

Qi, X., & Ploeger, A. (2021). Explaining Chinese consumers’ green food purchase intentions during the covid-19 pandemic: An extended theory of planned behaviour. Foods, 10(6), 1200. doi:10.3390/foods10061200.

Dhir, A., Sadiq, M., Talwar, S., Sakashita, M., & Kaur, P. (2021). Why do retail consumers buy green apparel? A knowledge-attitude-behaviour-context perspective. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 59, 102398. doi:10.1016/j.jretconser.2020.102398.

Guagnano, G. A., Stern, P. C., & Dietz, T. (1995). Influences on Attitude-Behavior Relationships. Environment and Behavior, 27(5), 699–718. doi:10.1177/0013916595275005.

Yadav, R. (2016). Altruistic or egoistic: Which value promotes organic food consumption among young consumers? A study in the context of a developing nation. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 33, 92–97. doi:10.1016/j.jretconser.2016.08.008.

Ertz, M., Karakas, F., & Sarigöllü, E. (2016). Exploring pro-environmental behaviors of consumers: An analysis of contextual factors, attitude, and behaviors. Journal of Business Research, 69(10), 3971–3980. doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2016.06.010.

Goh, S. K., & Balaji, M. S. (2016). Linking green skepticism to green purchase behavior. Journal of Cleaner Production, 131, 629–638. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.04.122.

Tandon, A., Dhir, A., Kaur, P., Kushwah, S., & Salo, J. (2020). Why do people buy organic food? The moderating role of environmental concerns and trust. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 57(1), 102247. doi:10.1016/j.jretconser.2020.102247.

Jawaid, M., Thariq, M., & Saba, N. (2018). Durability and life prediction in biocomposites, fibre-reinforced composites and hybrid composites. Woodhead Publishing, Sawston, United Kingdom. doi:10.1016/C2016-0-04449-2.

Moshood, T. D., Nawanir, G., Mahmud, F., Mohamad, F., Ahmad, M. H., & AbdulGhani, A. (2022). Sustainability of biodegradable plastics: New problem or solution to solve the global plastic pollution? Current Research in Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 5, 100273. doi:10.1016/j.crgsc.2022.100273.

ANECO. (2022). What is a biodegradable bag? Choose correctly. Available online: https://aneco.com.vn/vi/tui-sinh-hoc/tui-thuc-pham-sinh-hoc/ (accessed on May 2023).

Rainear, A. M., & Christensen, J. L. (2017). Protection Motivation Theory as an Explanatory Framework for Proenvironmental Behavioral Intentions. Communication Research Reports, 34(3), 239–248. doi:10.1080/08824096.2017.1286472.

Zhang, H., Zhuang, M., Cao, Y., Pan, J., Zhang, X., Zhang, J., & Zhang, H. (2021). Social distancing in tourism destination management during the covid-19 pandemic in china: A moderated mediation model. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(21), 11223. doi:10.3390/ijerph182111223.

Zhang, D., Su, F., Meng, X., & Zhang, Z. (2023). Impact of media trust and personal epidemic experience on epidemic prevention behaviors in the context of COVID-19: A cross-sectional study based on protection motivation theory. Frontiers in Public Health, 11. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1137692.

Scarpa, R., & Thiene, M. (2011). Organic food choices and Protection Motivation Theory: Addressing the psychological sources of heterogeneity. Food Quality and Preference, 22(6), 532–541. doi:10.1016/j.foodqual.2011.03.001.

Langbroek, J. H., Franklin, J. P., & Susilo, Y. O. (2017). Changing towards electric vehicle use in greater Stockholm. European Journal of Transport and Infrastructure Research, 17(3), 306–329. doi:10.18757/ejtir.2017.17.3.3199.

Tanner, J. F., Hunt, J. B., & Eppright, D. R. (1991). The Protection Motivation Model: A Normative Model of Fear Appeals. Journal of Marketing, 55(3), 36–45. doi:10.1177/002224299105500304.

Plotnikoff, R. C., & Trinh, L. (2010). Protection Motivation Theory. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, 38(2), 91–98. doi:10.1097/jes.0b013e3181d49612.

Yasami, M. (2021). International Tourists’ Threat Appraisal, Coping Appraisal, and Protection Intention. Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality & Tourism, 22(2), 163–190. doi:10.1080/1528008X.2020.1768460.

Oh, J. C., & Yoon, S. J. (2014). Theory-based approach to factors affecting ethical consumption. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 38(3), 278–288. doi:10.1111/ijcs.12092.

Qi, X., & Ploeger, A. (2021). Explaining chinese consumers’ green food purchase intentions during the covid-19 pandemic: An extended theory of planned behaviour. Foods, 10(6), 1200. doi:10.3390/foods10061200.

Sadiq, M., Adil, M., & Paul, J. (2023). Organic food consumption and contextual factors: An attitude–behavior–context perspective. Business Strategy and the Environment, 32(6), 3383–3397. doi:10.1002/bse.3306.

Alam, M. N., Ogiemwonyi, O., Hago, I. E., Azizan, N. A., Hashim, F., & Hossain, M. S. (2023). Understanding Consumer Environmental Ethics and the Willingness to Use Green Products. SAGE Open, 13(1), 215824402211497. doi:10.1177/21582440221149727.

Wang, Y. M., Zaman, H. M. F., & Alvi, A. K. (2022). Linkage of Green Brand Positioning and Green Customer Value with Green Purchase Intention: The Mediating and Moderating Role of Attitude Toward Green Brand and Green Trust. SAGE Open, 12(2), 215824402211024. doi:10.1177/21582440221102441.

Tan, B. C., & Lau, T. C. (2011). Green purchase behavior: Examining the influence of green environmental attitude, perceived consumer effectiveness and specific green purchase attitude. Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 5(8), 559-567.

Obermiller, C., & Spangenberg, E. R. (1998). Development of a scale to measure consumer skepticism toward advertising. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 7(2), 159–186. doi:10.1207/s15327663jcp0702_03.

Sääksjärvi, M., & Morel, K. P. n. (2010). The development of a scale to measure consumer doubt toward new products. European Journal of Innovation Management, 13(3), 272–293. doi:10.1108/14601061011060120.

Junior, S. S. B., da Silva, D., Gabriel, M. L. D. S., & Braga, W. R. de O. (2015). The Effects of Environmental Concern on Purchase of Green Products in Retail. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 170, 99–108. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.01.019.

60-Shafiei, A., & Maleksaeidi, H. (2020). Pro-environmental behavior of university students: Application of protection motivation theory. Global Ecology and Conservation, 22, 908. doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e00908.

Leonidou, C. N., & Skarmeas, D. (2015). Gray Shades of Green: Causes and Consequences of Green Skepticism. Journal of Business Ethics, 144(2), 401–415. doi:10.1007/s10551-015-2829-4.

Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2007). Experimental designs using ANOVA. Barbara Tabachnick and Linda Fidell. Thomson/Brooks/Cole, California, United States.

Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., Sarstedt, M., Danks, N. P., & Ray, S. (2021). Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) Using R. Classroom Companion: Business. Springer International Publishing, Cham, Switzerland. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-80519-7.

Cooper, B., Eva, N., Zarea Fazlelahi, F., Newman, A., Lee, A., & Obschonka, M. (2020). Addressing common method variance and endogeneity in vocational behavior research: A review of the literature and suggestions for future research. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 121. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2020.103472.

Sarstedt, M., Ringle, C.M., Hair, J.F. (2022). Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling. Handbook of Market Research. Springer, Cham, Switzerland. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-57413-4_15.

Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 43(1), 115–135. doi:10.1007/s11747-014-0403-8.

Chin W, M. G. (1998). The Partial Least Squares Approach to Structural Formula Modeling. Advances in Hospitality and Leisure, 8(2), 5.

Shmueli, G., Sarstedt, M., Hair, J. F., Cheah, J. H., Ting, H., Vaithilingam, S., & Ringle, C. M. (2019). Predictive model assessment in PLS-SEM: guidelines for using PLSpredict. European Journal of Marketing, 53(11), 2322–2347. doi:10.1108/EJM-02-2019-0189.


Full Text: PDF

DOI: 10.28991/ESJ-2024-08-03-04

Refbacks



Copyright (c) 2024 Nguyen Le