Consumer Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors towards the Use of Plastic Bags in the Kingdom of BAHRAIN

Abstract

People continue to use Plastic bags for daily tasks due to their quick availability, durability, strength, lightness, transparency, and cost-effectiveness. In addition to that, most shops and supermarkets give their patrons complimentary plastic bags to take their purchases home. The Gulf countries provide single-use plastic bags free of charge as part of purchasing services. As cities, become overwhelmed with plastic bags, a growing threat to marine life, soil and human health. Many governments are taking steps to reduce plastic bag consumption both for saving resources and for creating a green environment. A few people make an effort to use fewer free plastic bags. In recent years, numerous research papers have recognized the significance of public perception, knowledge, awareness, attitude, and behaviour in reducing the use of plastic bags as a practical pro-environmental approach that very few people practice. In light of this research, the knowledge, awareness, attitude and motivation toward the use of plastic bags in the Kingdom of Bahrain were investigated. Therefore, this descriptive study is explorative and qualitative research. Questionnaires were distributed via a digital Google form, an informal sampling method used to reach a target population (773 participants) over one month. To study the pro-environmental factors such as the public environmental awareness concerning the harm of plastic bags, the social pressure, and government support for banning plastic bags. The intention of using cloth bags and the behaviour of reducing plastic bags as latent variables. A research model based on Ajzen's theory (1991) of planned behaviour (TPB) was proposed, to assess the relationship between various psychosocial factors that are assumed to affect the intention to use cloth bags and the behaviour that could reduce the use of plastic bags. Most of the participants in the study had an awareness of the hazards of plastic bags and had strong intentions to minimize the use of plastic bags. However, there is a need for spreading awareness among the population: prompt intervention, and effective implementation of alternative strategies and legislation. Environmental tax enforcement could be an effective tool in achieving desired behaviour changes.