Exploring Undergraduates' Perspectives on Environmental Awareness and Sustainability Challenges

Laura Christ Dass; Geetha Subramaniam; Mazura Anuar; Hadayat Rahmah Hasan; Jebakumari Selvarani Ebenezer

doi:10.21834/e-bpj.v10iSI42.7745

Authors

Laura Christ Dass Akademi Pengajian Bahasa, Universiti Teknologi MARA, UiTM Shah Alam, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Geetha Subramaniam School of Business, University of Wollongong Malaysia, Glenmarie Campus, 40150 Shah Alam, Malaysia
Mazura Anuar Akademi Pengajian Bahasa, Universiti Teknologi MARA, UiTM Shah Alam, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Hadayat Rahmah Hasan Akademi Pengajian Bahasa, Universiti Teknologi MARA, UiTM Shah Alam, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Jebakumari Selvarani Ebenezer Centre for Foundation Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 43800 Dengkil, Selangor, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v10iSI42.7745

Keywords:

environmental awareness, plastic pollution;, SDG, single-use plastics

Abstract

Plastic pollution is a critical global issue, and this study examines undergraduates' awareness and willingness to act against it using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). The research, focusing on a Malaysian university, found that students were aware of plastic pollution's environmental impact and supported the university's sustainability efforts. However, stronger institutional measures are needed to reduce single-use plastics and promote eco-friendly alternatives, aligning with SDGs 13, 14, and 15. Universities play a key role in fostering sustainable practices among students.

References

Abramson, R. (2008). Plastic Recycling Awareness among Students at UC Berkeley. Plastic Recycling Awareness, 1-20. https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:59572553.

Adeniran, A. E., Nubi, A. T., Adelopo, A. O. (2017). Solid Waste Generation and Characterization in the University of Lagos for a Sustainable Waste Management. Waste Management, 67, 3-10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2017.05.002

Auld, S., & Wang, J. (2020). *Living in the plastic crisis: A study of student awareness & behaviour regarding single-use plastics on Lakehead University campus* (Honours Bachelor of Environmental Management thesis). Lakehead University. http://knowledgecommons.lakeheadu.ca/handle/2453/4628

Blakely, R. (3 Sept, 2020). Tiny plastic fragments found inside human body. The Times, UK. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tiny-plastic-fragments-found-inside-human-body-x2q06q7kz

Borunda, A. (2019, 19 Mac). This young whale died with 88 pounds of plastic in its stomach. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/whale-dies-88-pounds-plastic-philippines

Chen, H. L., Nath, T. K., Chong, S. (2021). The plastic waste problem in Malaysia: management, recycling and disposal of local and global plastic waste. SN Applied Sciences, 3(4), 437. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-021-04234-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-021-04234-y

Cutts, B.B., Anderson, W. A.,Watson, M. E. (2018). Factors Influencing College Students' Use of Reusable Water Bottles. Journal of Environmental Education, 49(1), 63-78.

Dass, L. C., Anuar, M., Hasan, H. Ebenezer, J. (2022). The Implementation of a System in University Cafeterias to Combat Plastic Pollution. 9th International Conference on Science and Social Research (CSSR 2023), 14-15 December 2022, University Teknologi MARA

Fan, B., Yang, W., Shen, X. (2019). A Comparison Study of 'Motivation-Intention-Behavior' Model on Household Solid Waste Sorting in China and Singapore. Journal of Cleaner Production, 211, 442-454. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.11.168

Gancar, C. P., Fenitra, R. M., Masmira, K., Sedera, R. M. H., Abbas, A. (2023). Extended Theory of Planned Behavior and Environmentally Responsible Behavior in the Context of Beach Tourism Malaysian Journal of Consumer and Family Economics (MAJCAFE) Vol 31, 1-29. https://www.majcafe.com : eISSN : 2948-4189 DOI: https://doi.org/10.60016/majcafe.v31.14

Geng, Y., Liu, K., Xue, B., Fujita, T. (2013). Creating a "Green University" in China: A Case of Shenyang University. Journal of Cleaner Production, 61, 13-19. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.07.013

Hasan, S. N. M. S., Harun, R., Hock, L. K. (2015). Application of Theory of Planned Behavior in Measuring the Behavior to Reduce Plastic Consumption among Students at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia. Procedia Environmental Sciences, 30, 195-200. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proenv.2015.10.035

Kaffashi, S., & Shamsudin, M. N. (2019). Transforming to a Low Carbon Society; an Extended Theory of Planned Behaviour of Malaysian Citizens. Journal of Cleaner Production, 235, 1255-1264. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.07.047

Khan, O., Daddi, T., Slabbinck, H., Kleinhans, K., Vazquez-Brust, D., De Meester, S. (2020). Assessing the Determinants of Intentions and Behaviors of Organizations towards a Circular Economy for Plastics. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 163, 105069. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.105069

Khuc, Q. V. (2022). The Integrated Systems Approach Framework for Tackling Environmental Pollution and Climate Change Mitigation. VIETKAP Working Paper Series No. 2022/7.1. Preprint. https://osf.io/w9a8b (not cited in the article) DOI: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/w9a8b

Md Yusop, H., Adam, A. A., Abdul Rahim, A. R., Munusami, C., Hussin, S. A. (2023). Green Human Resource Management and Employee Pro-Environmental Behavior: Environmental Knowledge Best Mediate or Moderate the Relationship? Malaysian Journal of Consumer and Family Economics (MAJCAFE) 31, 1-31. https://www.majcafe.com : eISSN : 2948-4189 DOI: https://doi.org/10.60016/majcafe.v31.28

Mikula, K., Skrzypczak, D., Izydorczyk, G., Warchoł, J., Moustakas, K., Chojnacka, K.,Witek-Krowiak, A. (2021). 3D printing filament as a second life of waste plastics: A review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28, 12321-12333. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10657-8

Nasir, S.R., & Lamsali, H. (2017). Plastic Recycling Awareness among Students in Campus. Semantic Scholar. pp.1169-1177. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Plastic-recycling-awareness-among-student-in-campus-Nasir-Lamsali/515ce4cd6b58e5295e16c250ca82b50f28a3a523

Omar, B.S., Quoquab, F., Mohammad, J. (2019). "No plastic bag" Campaign of Malaysia. In Quoquab, F. & Mohammad, J. (Eds.), Green Behaviour and Corporate Social Responsibility in Asia, Bingley: Emerald Publishing Limited. 113-119. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-78756-683-520191013

Ramasamy, B.S.S., & Palanisamy, S. (2021). A Review on Occurrence, Characteristics, Toxicology and Treatment of Nanoplastic Waste in the Environment. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28, 43258-43273. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14883-6

Soberi, N. A., Yusuf, I. N., Mohd Shazali, N., Ahmad, N. (2021). The drives towards controlling plastic consumption: A study in UiTM Kampus Seremban. In E-proceeding 8th International Conference on Public Policy and Social Sciences (eISBN 978-967-14569-4-1).

Truelove, H.B., Largo-Wight, E., Siuda, A.N.S., Gowans, S., Minichiello, H., Hill, J. (2023). Reducing Single-Use Plastic on College Campuses: Theory of Planned Behavior-Based Brief Interventions. Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology, 4, 100098. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cresp.2023.100098

Van Lee, M., Abdul Hamid, N., Ahmad, M., Ahmad, A.N.A., Ruslan, R., Fadzline, P. (2021). Factors of Single Use Plastic Reduction Behavioral Intention. Emerging Science Journal, 5, 269-278. DOI: https://doi.org/10.28991/esj-2021-01275

Wahid, R. M., Purnamasari, E. D., Fauzi, F. (2020). Environmental Education to Boost Pro-Environmental Behavior in Reducing Plastics Consumption among Students in Universitas Bina Darma Palembang. EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR), 6(8), 20-32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra4913

Yuriev, A., Dahmen, M., Paillé, P., Boiral, O., Guillaumie, L. (2020). Pro-environmental behaviors through the lens of the theory of planned behavior: A scoping review. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 155. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104660