Individual and Environmental Predictors on the Use of Plastic Bags Among the Vendors of Hadishahr City

Bakhtari et al. Int Electron J Med. 2018; 7(2):41-47 DOI:10.31661/iejm942

Original Article

Individual and Environmental Predictors on the Use of Plastic Bags among the Vendors of Hadishahr City

Fatemeh Bakhtari1* , Haidar Nadrian1, Mohammad Asghari Jafarabadi2, Reza Dehghanzadeh3, Ziba Delangiz1

1 Road Traffic Injury Research Center, Department of Health Education and Promotion, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. 2 Road Traffic Injury Research Center, Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. 3 Department of Environmental Health, Health and Environment Research Center, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

Received: 2018/09/12 Accepted: 2018/11/06 Published: 2018/12/15 Abstract Background: Excessive use of plastic bags has become a major problem in the worldwide causing irreparable dam- ages to the environment and humans. The purpose of this study was to identify the individual and environmental factors associated with the use of plastic bags among the vendors of Hadishahr city, Iran. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 400 vendors working in Hadishahr city. The data were gathered using a researcher-made questionnaire, which measured knowledge and attitudes of vendors regarding the use of plastic bags at the individual level. At the environmental level, access to alternatives plastic bags and social support to use of alternative was measured. Plastic bags in kilograms per week was measured as the consumer behavior Data were analyzed using SPSS software via Chi-square, t-test and hierarchical regression tests. Result: The average usage of plastic bags by the vendors was 4.5 kg per week. 97.8% of vendors gave plastic bags for the customers to carry away their purchased items. The individual-level factors (knowledge and attitude), along with social support for the use of alternatives taken from environmental factors were the most important predictors for the use of plastic bags; they were able to predict consumption behavior (15%) along with other variables. Conclusion: In order to reduce the plastic bags consumption while training, it is necessary to provide social support for the usage of alternatives and environmental access to these alternatives. Keywords: Plastic Bags, Individual Factors, Environmental Factors

Introduction cer (2-4). The widespread use of plastic bags appears to contradict contemporary public policy to ensure lastic bag usage is an environmental problem in sustainable development (3). According to the statis- Pmany countries around the world (1). Plastic bags tics suggested by experts, the use of plastic products in make up a large proportion of municipal waste and cause Iran is on the verge of warning, so that Iran ranks 1st a lot of environmental, economic and social problems, among 50 countries in terms of single-use plastic items including visual pollution, blocking the waterways and consumption and alone consume 500 tons plastic bags flood risk, reducing water penetration and soil improp- per day in Tehran. In Iran, the majority of stores and er ventilation, environmental pollution due to the long supermarkets provide free consumer bags for their cus- shelf life taking more than 500 years, entering the food tomers. People are more inclined to purchase more free chain of domestic animals and their deaths, the spread products (5). Each year, an estimated 500 billion to 1 of some diseases such as encephalitis, dengue fever and trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide (3) and malaria due to the persistence of water and reproduction annually approximately 500 billion free plastic bags are of different insects, production of hazardous and poi- used worldwide. Plastics account for 20% of global sonous leachate and subsequently their biodegradabili- plastics waste (6) and it is estimated that Australians ty, entering the human food chain and CO2 emissions. use 5 billion plastic bags each and every year. This im- Furthermore, plastics produce vinyl chloride gas, which plies one bag per person each day. At least 80 million is very dangerous and its exposures causes liver can- plastic bags are eventually thrown away as trash into the

*Corresponding Author: Fatemeh Bakhtari ; Road Traffic Injury Research Center , Department of Health Education and Promotion, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Email Address: [email protected] Telephone Number: 09144017508 ORCID: 0000-0002-9834-2636

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beaches, streets and parks (4). Consumers use plastic no study has been conducted to investigate the use of bags because they can carry purchased items very easi- plastic bags at the individual, social and physical lev- ly, whereas all people may suffer the cost of producing els. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the and disposing of plastic bags (7, 8). Furthermore, the predictive of individual and environmental factors con- inexpensive, lightweight, strong, durable and corro- tributing in the behavior of plastic bags consumption in sion-resistant materials of plastic bags for transporting Hadishahr city, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. food have heavily contributed to the use of plastic bags (2, 3, 8). However, the weak management and perhaps Materials and methods the lack of awareness of people regarding the negative effects can be another reason to use the plastic bags (3). This is a cross- sectional study conducted on 400 ven- In accordance with Article 50 of the constitution of dors working in Hadishahr city. In order to determine the Islamic Republic of Iran, the protection of the nat- the sample size, the initial data on the variable of plastic ural environment is considered a duty on every citizen bags usage was gathered based on the study by Gupta so that the current and subsequent generations can ex- et al., with 95% confidence level, 90% test power and perience an improving social life. Therefore, economic 30% dropout probability; the value for the sample was and non-economic activities linked to the environmen- estimated below 200 based on the following formula: tal pollution or its irreparable degradation are banned; however, the operating bodies including parliament and municipalities did not pay much attention to the diffi- culties arising from the usage of plastic bags. In addi- (z1−α + z1−β)(p1(1 − p1) + p2(1 − p2)) tion, to our knowledge, no research has been undertaken However,n = by taking into account the2 effect size due to (p1 − p2) in this regard, and no plan or program has been devel- the use of cluster sampling, the sample size was calcu- oped yet. A number of studies have suggested differ- lated 400. Hadishahr is located between the two Alam- ent ways to reduce the consumption of plastic bags, in- dar and Gargar towns. Each region is divided into 4 cluding facilitating customers’ access to reusable bags clusters according to the municipality division. A clus- (4), encouraging consumers to carry away their own ter was selected from the Gargar town and another clus- bags or to use other transportation means (9), training ter from Alamdar; these two regions were selected as vendors to effectively utilize the retailer’s discounting our study place. All stores belonged to selected cluster handbags for customers (7), mandatory price on plas- were entered in the study except for butchers and chick- tic bags (10), taxation at the production level, offer- en shops. The inclusion criterion was the presence of a ing discount per reusable bag, notification programs, shop in Hadishahr city and the exclusion criteria includ- obligatory and monitoring procedures (2), taking some ed showing unwillingness or reluctance to participate in steps to enforce laws by policy makers including tax on the study, accessing to butcher, and chicken shops. reducing the plastic bags usage (8) and finally, imple- menting educational campaigns (11). Iran is one of the Measurement tool biggest manufactures of plastic materials because of its oil resources. There is no official information about the 1. Demographic characteristics (age, sex, educational production and use of plastic bags and no studies have level, job) been done to investigate the awareness of the commu- 2. Measuring individual level factors: including as- nity regarding the disadvantages of plastic, consumer sessing the vendors’ knowledge of the disadvantages behavior and the use of plastic bags alternatives. De- of plastic bags and their attitude regarding the use of spite the abundance of plastic materials production, no plastic bags and their alternatives. Vendors’ knowledge laws have been passed to approve restrictions on con- of the disadvantages of plastic bags was measured using sumption or tax for plastic bags and vendors provide seven items two options (Yes-No) and (zero represent- free bags for their customers. Therefore, we need to ing the minimum score and seven the maximum score). undertake research in order to find effective interven- The scores for each level ranged between (0-0) and (0- tions for reducing plastic bag consumption. In order to 100) for each variable. The item for measuring knowl- analyze the consumption status and behavior of plastic edge for example was “There are other alternatives for bags, it is necessary to evaluate it at various levels. In plastic bags: Yes and No”. Attitude regarding the plas- this respect, an ecological approach offers an effective tic bags and its alternatives was measured using seven framework for studying behavior at several levels in- items and was answered using Likert scale (1 to 3). The cluding individual (behavioral attitude and awareness), scores for each level ranged between (0-0) and (0-100) social (social support), environmental factors (physical for each variable. The item for measuring attitude for environment) and organizational and political (formal example was “I like to use some alternatives to plastic and informal rules); these levels interact and affect each bags such as handbags and fabric bags”, with agree; nei- other (12, 13). According to the above, there are no laws ther agree nor disagree; disagree options. or taxes forbidding the use of plastic bags at the organi- 3. Measuring environmental factors: accessibility to zational and political levels in Iran. In addition, to date, alternatives of plastic bags in a shop as a consumer en-

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vironment and social support for the use of the alter- completed the questionnaires after explaining the study natives. Accessing to alternatives to plastic bags was goals and obtaining the informed consent. Cronbach’s measured using four items. The sample item was “Do alpha coefficient for the variables of the whole sample you have access to plastic bags (such as paper bags, was obtained: knowledge and attitude (0.70), consump- handbags and other alternatives) in your store?” “Yes tion behavior (0.71), access to alternatives (0.71) and or No”. social environment (0.75). Social support for using alternatives to plastic bags was measured using three items. The sample item was “Do Data analysis you encourage your friends or colleagues to use alternatives to plastic bags in the store? The items were mea- For descriptive data (frequency and percentage, mean sured with four options: Sometimes, very often, never». and standard deviation), and analytical data (Pearson The scores for each level ranged between (0-100) for correlation test, ANOVA and independent t-test) were each variable. Each item was ranked according to the used. Normality of quantitative variables was ana- number of items in each section: poor (less than 50% lyzed using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Chi-square test of maximum score), average (50-75% of maximum and independent t-test were used for qualitative data score) and good (75-100 of maximum score). Consume and comparing the basic variables, respectively. Fur- of plastic bag in the stores was determined in kilograms thermore, hierarchical regression method was used to per week. In our study, the data were collected using estimate the predictability of the individual and envi- a researcher-made questionnaire and the questionnaire ronmental factors in the behavior of plastic bags. Data items used in Adane and Muleta study (3). The face and were analyzed at P-value less than 0.05 and were an- content validity of the questionnaires was confirmed alyzed using SPSS-22 software. This project has been based on the comments provided by 10 professors and approved by the Ethics Committee of Tabriz University experts in the field of health education and promotion of Medical Sciences (TBZMED.REC.1394.878 code). and environmental health and necessary modifications The study was started on Feb. 2015 and ended on March were made. CVR of all items of the questionnaire was 25, 2015. shown 1, except for two items with a relative content validity of 0.6. In addition, CVI of all items of the ques- Result tionnaire ranged between 0.75-10, except for one item with a CVI of 0.67. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the Of 400 vendors, 373 (93.3%) were male. The average variables of the whole sample was obtained as follows: age of participants was 38.3 years. The majority of par- knowledge and attitude (0.70), access to alternatives ticipants had high school diploma. The results of demo- (0.71) and social environment (0.75). Data were collect- graphic variables have been represented in Table-1. The ed from the stores located in the city. The participants average consumption of plastic bags andindividual, so-

Table 1. Demographic characteristics of vendors

Variable Vendors

Age Number Percent Mean Standard Deviation P-value

≤ 30 103 26.8 27.3 11.97

31-36 98 25.5 28.1 12.21

37-44 91 23.7 26.1 13.15 0.547

45+ 92 33.9 25.9 11.92

Total 384 100 26.9 12.29

Below diploma 262 65.5 26.06 12.80 0.022*

Academic 138 34.5 28.45 10.73

Female 27 6.8 28.75 10.22 0.095*

Male 373 93.3 26.75 12.3

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Table 2. Descriptive statistics for individual and environmental factors contributing to the use of plastic bags or their alternatives Variable Vendors

Mean (0-100) Standard Deviation Number of items Scores range

Awareness 59.23 12.17 7 0-7

Attitude 63.96 30.39 7 7-21

Accessing to Alternatives 9.46 19.73 4 0-8

Social environment 34.94 27.62 3 0-9

Plastic bags used 4.55 7.63 1 Kilogram / week

Table 3. Predicting power of demographic variables, levels of individual, social, and environmental factors contributing in the behavior of plastic bags use among the vendors using hierarchical regression method

Stan- Stan- Stan- Stan- Step/Vari- B dard P-value B dard P-value B dard P-value B dard P-value able (Step1) Devia- (Step2) Devia- (Step3) Devia- (Step4) Devia- tion tion tion tion

Age -0.05 0.05 0.29 -0.05 0.05 0.33 -0.05 0.05 0.32 -0.04 0.05 0.39

Sex 0.04 2.80 0.44 0.06 2.67 0.25 0.06 2.68 0.21 0.07 2.66 0.13

Educational 0.06 1.37 0.19 0.02 1.33 0.70 0.02 1.33 0.63 0.01 1.32 0.76 level

Use for -0.13 0.08 0.01 -0.13 0.07 0.01 -0.14 0.07 0.01 -0.14 0.07 0.004 week

Awarness 0.13 0.03 0.01 0.13 0.03 0.02 0.08 0.03 0.15

Attitude 0.23 0.03 0.01 0.22 0.03 0.01 0.18 0.03 0.01

Access to 0.73 0.03 0.14 0.06 0.03 0.19 alternatives

Social 0.15 0.02 0.008 support

R2 0.02 0.12 0.13 0.15

Cumulative 0.02 0.14 0.27 0.42 R2

P-value 0.06 0.01 0.01 0.01

44 Bakhtari et al. Int Electron J Med. 2018; 7(2):41-47 cial and environmental factors in the use of plastic bags results, the average usage of plastic bags by the ven- or their alternatives. According to the results of Table-2, dors was 4.5 kg per week and was very high. Studies the average use of plastic bags is high (4.5 kg). Regard- have shown that each year, an estimated 500 billion to ing the individual level factors, our results showed that 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide (3), and the vendors’ knowledge of the disadvantages of using annually approximately 500 billion are distributed with plastic bags was at an average level; the participants free of charge. According to the results of a study in had an average attitude towards the use of alternatives 2007, only, about 18 billion plastic bags were produced instead of plastic bags; however, the rate of plastic bags in Brazil, most of them made from oil (14). In addition, consumption was very high. In addition, accessing to it is estimated that Australians use 5 billion plastic bags plastic alternatives and social support for the use of each and every year. This implies one bag per person these alternatives were poor. The results of hierarchical each day (3, 4). According to the reports released by regression analysis have been presented in Table-3. In Tehran Municipality website, the amount of plastic pro- the first step, the predictive effects of demographic vari- duced in Iran totals some 177,000 tons per annum, but ables including age, sex, educational level and plastic the volume is unknown. At least 80 million plastic bags bags consume were examined and the results showed are eventually thrown away as trash into the beaches, that these variables were able to predict the consumption streets and parks (3, 4). According to the global reports, behavior (2%). In the second step, the impact of demo- some 3.5 million tons of trash is being produced daily graphic variables on individual levels, including knowl- in the world and Iran’s share is some 40,000 tons, which edge and attitude and plastic bags plastic bags consume constitutes to 15.1 percent of the whole world trash pro- were investigated. Our results suggested that individual duction. 10.28 percent of the waste produced in Iran level factors significantly predicted the consumption is plastic. According to the statistics suggested by ex- behavior and were able to predict the consumption be- perts, the use of plastic products in Iran is on the verge havior (12%), along with demographic variables. In the of warning, so that Iran ranks 1st among 50 countries third step, the effects of physical environment factors in terms of single-use plastic items consumption and such as access to plastic bags alternatives along with alone consume 500 tons plastic bags per day in Tehran. demographic variables and individual level factors for According to experts, single-use plastic bags and con- predicting consumer behavior were investigated and tainers sold annually in Iran, worth billions tomans; this the results indicated that this variable, along with the money can be spent for building new factories and can other variables of consumption behavior, were able to prevent further degradation of the country’s environ- predict the consumption behavior (13%). In the fourth ment. Based on the figures released by environmental step, the impact of social support was incorporated to experts, each Iranian family uses three plastic bags on previous levels showing that this variable could signifi- average per day; therefore, with an estimated 20 million cantly predict the consumption behavior by 15% along households in Iran, it can be said that 60 million daily, with other variables. Finally, knowledge, attitude and one billion and 800 million a month, and more than 20 social support were the main predictors for the number billion plastic bags are annually consumed in the coun- of plastic bags used by vendors. In addition, there was try. Experts believe that if every household in the capital a significant correlation between the number of plastic used one plastic bag less every week, it would lead to bags consumption and individual and environmental 816 million less bags used in a year. Therefore, a sus- levels and a significant correlation was also found be- tainable culture is the main requisite to achieve the goal. tween plastic bags use and knowledge (R=0.237, P-val- Cheap petrochemicals, easy access and inexpensiveness ue=0.001), attitude (R=0.283 and 001) (P-value=0/0), have been mentioned as the main reasons for plastic us- social support (R=0.213, P-value=0.001) and access to age, reflecting the creation of integrated changes made alternatives (R=0.111 and P-value=0.026) respectively. in individual, social, organizational and political levels across the country. The present study showed that Discussion the majority of vendors provided plastic bags for their customers to carry away their purchased items and ac- This study aimed to identify the individual and envi- cessing to alternatives was poor. The results of the cur- ronmental predictor factors for the consumption be- rent study are in line with those in United Kingdom, havior of plastic bags in Hadishahr city. Our results Ethiopia and India (16), indicating the excessive use of showed that awareness and attitude of individual fac- plastic bags (6, 15, 16). The implication is that near- tors and social support for environmental factors have ly 98% of vendors delivered purchased items in plastic been shown to be the most important predictors for bags to the customer. However, according to Australian plastic bag consumption. Considering the fact that Retailers Association, 27% of vendors reported using Iran passed no law or tax banning plastic bag usage, paper bags, 12.5% reported they use cardboard box- we were able to analyze a limited number of predictors; es, 24% reported they were using another alternative however, according to the results of the studies in oth- which included woven reusable bags, recycled, calico er countries, tax policy is the most important predictor and cloth bags for delivering purchased items (16-18). for reducing the use of plastic bags (7). Based on our This high discrepancy between the results may suggest

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the excessive use of plastic bags in Iran compared with edge, this is the first study to examine the consumption other countries and the occurrence of irreparable envi- of plastic bags and its predictors in Iran, and subsequent ronmental pollution, increased non-contagious diseas- studies need to be carried out in different cities. Addi- es in humans and animals, the entrance of hazardous tionally, some interventions should be implemented to substances in the human and animal food cycle and an reduce the consumption of plastic bags. Training peo- increase in cancer rates (4, 17). In the current study, the ple about the harmful impacts of plastic bags usage and retailers’ awareness of the disadvantages of plastic bags at the same time, accessing and identifying alternative and their attitude toward using alternatives was at the bags, encouraging and supporting alternatives can help average level; however, the consumption rate was high. reduce plastic bags consumption. This study has some Studies have also shown that, although the awareness of limitations, which have to be pointed out. The city the harmful impacts of plastic bags usage is high, they size, limited population and its specific cultural context continue to be used (3). In the present study, however, surrounded by agricultural land, provision of everyday access to alternatives at the environmental level and the items from local stores, which all can be influential in social support for the use of alternatives were poor. This the selling and buying process; therefore, studies in big suggests that training is not enough for reducing the cities are recommended. plastic bags consumption, and at the same time, some changes need to be made at the environmental levels. Conclusion In addition, the significant correlation found between the use of plastic bags and individual factors (aware- In the present study, awareness and attitude have been ness, attitude), environmental factors (social support identified as the most important predictors for plastic for the use of alternatives and access to alternatives), bags usage and social support and access to alternatives suggests that in addition to increasing awareness and can simultaneously predict the behavior by 15%. There- changing attitudes, it is essential to raise the accessi- fore, developing an appropriate training program for bility to plastic bags alternatives or introduce these sellers organized in the form of educational campaigns, alternatives. Moreover, more social support for using or providing training through the guild office should be alternatives needs to be provided. As a result, vendors paid special attention. should benefit from some effective strategies while selling the people carrying away their purchases including Acknowledgment verbal encouragement, offering low discount rate, and encouraging vendors to use alternatives to plastic bags. We greatly appreciate all participants in the project. According to the current results, the use of popular and This project has been approved by the Ethics Commit- motivating alternatives to plastic bags and promoting tee of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (approval the use of personalized multi-purpose bag by retailers, code number: TBZMED.REC.1394.878). could contribute to a 50% reduction in the consumption of plastic bags in the long term (8). Further analysis also Conflict of interest showed that, access to alternatives would be improved through providing more social support and individual The authors declare that they have no conflict of inter- variables including awareness and attitude. 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