What drives users to return plastic waste to reverse logistics systems for recycling? evidence from Vietnam

Abstract

Reverse logistics is a potential solution to Vietnam's rapidly increasing plastic waste. However, reverse logistics is not adopted widely in Vietnam. In addition, the factors that affect Vietnamese people's behavior of returning plastic waste have not been clearly discovered. Therefore, this study examined the factors that drive users to return plastic waste to the reverse logistics system by using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and social cognitive theory (SCT). The reliability and validity of the proposed model are verified by analyzing survey data collected from 302 Vietnamese citizens. This study employed SmartPLS 4.0 to determine the influence of social factors (Moral Norm, Subjective Norm, Environmental Awareness, Willingness to Sacrifice, Perceived Behavioral Control) on personal factors (Attitude, Normative Commitment to Return) and how personal factors affect the intention to return plastic waste to the reverse logistics system of users living in Vietnam. Research results showed that Moral Norm, Environmental Awareness and Perceived Behavioral Control impact Attitude. Moreover, study outcomes revealed that Moral Norm, Subjective Norm, Environmental Awareness and Willingness to Sacrifice influence Normative Commitment to Return. Additionally, both Attitude and Normative Commitment to Return had a statistically significant relevance towards the Vietnamese users’ intention to return plastic waste. In contrast, our study found that Subjective Norm and Willingness to Sacrifice has no significant impact on Attitude and Perceived Behavioral Control also has no positively significant on Normative Commitment to Return. This study concludes with recommendations to increase the intention to return plastic waste to the reverse logistics system of Vietnamese residents, contributing to promoting the completion and application of the reverse logistics system into practice in the future.