A Systematic Review on Knowledge, Attitude and Practices towards Single-Use Plastic

Abstract

Revisiting the knowledge, attitude and practices toward single-use plastic before the COVID-19 pandemic may be helpful to reduce single-use plastic usage in the endemic community. This systematic review aims to identify factors associated with single-use plastic usage before the COVID-19 pandemic. Five primary electronic databases namely, Scopus, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science and CINAHL were used to search from inception to 30 April 2020, for studies pertaining to the investigation of factors (i.e. knowledge, attitudes, practice) associated with single-use plastic usage. Twenty-nine (29) articles were identified and five (5) studies meeting eligible criteria were reviewed and remained in this systematic review. The present review found that younger generations and females had a more pro-environmental attitude and practices toward SUP while only youngsters were associated with a high knowledge level. Results also showed that a high education level does not necessarily result in good practices. Single-use plastics pollution is a worldwide problem and most of us are aware of its impact on us, our environment and our surrounding, however, SUP reduction practices are still low. To remedy this pressing situation, better interventions and more alternative materials to plastics are needed. Furthermore, we need more people to adopt a sustainable attitude and behaviour to make a change.