Study on university students’ intention to choose reusable takeaway food containers: evidence from China
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
ISSN: 1467-6370
Article publication date: 23 July 2024
Issue publication date: 2 January 2025
Abstract
Purpose
Reusable takeaway food containers (RTFCs) are a newly emerging green packaging choice for the takeaway industry that can effectively reduce campus solid waste but are not yet well accepted. Therefore, this study aims to identify the key factors influencing university students’ intention to choose RTFCs, seeking to enhance RTFC project management practices and contribute to developing a sustainable “green university.”
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 316 valid respondents from a Chinese university were surveyed for data collection. A multivariate ordered logistic regression model was used to conduct empirical analysis.
Findings
The results of this study underscore the crucial role of perceived value in the relationship between perceived green attributes and students’ intention to choose RTFCs. The positive impacts of perceived green attributes on intention are direct and indirect, through the lens of perceived value. When the value is substantial, it significantly boosts the student’s intention to choose RTFCs. Conversely, the perception of lower hygienic quality or higher returning time cost dampens this intention, with a more pronounced effect than perceived green attributes. Notably, perceived publicity activities have the most significant impact on student’s intention to choose RTFCs.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the understanding of promoting RTFCs, a key strategy for reducing plastic waste on campuses. The findings provide actionable recommendations for the project company and the university, offering practical ways to encourage students to use RTFCs and contribute to plastic waste reduction.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Declaration of competing interest: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Funding: This work was supported by the Teaching Reform Project of Nanjing University of Finance and Economics (JGZ2023009), Ministry of Education's University-Industry Cooperation and Collaborative Education Project (230802279104617), National Natural Science Foundation of China (71874079, 72073059) and Plastic Free China. The authors would like to acknowledge Shuangti and all the participants for their contributions to the survey.
Citation
Li, R., Zhou, Y., Wang, H. and Wang, Q. (2025), "Study on university students’ intention to choose reusable takeaway food containers: evidence from China", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 26 No. 2, pp. 295-314. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-08-2023-0363
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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