The effects of environmental information provision on plastic bag use and marine environment status in the context of the environmental levy in Greece

Abstract

The focus of this study is to examine the level of awareness, as well as the impacts of environmental information provision, regarding plastic bag consumption in Greece, taking into consideration the effects of plastic pollution in the marine environment within the framework of the environmental levy. This study was conducted through the use of two structured questionnaires as web-based surveys. The aim of both questionnaires was to explore citizen attitudes towards the marine environment in addition to their preferences with regard to the implementation of a program aimed at marine conservation and the reduction of plastic bag use. Data on plastic bag consumption at a national level were also incorporated. This research was carried out according to the contingent valuation method aimed at estimating citizen willingness-to-pay (WTP) on both structured questionnaires. The first questionnaire utilized the minimal legal WTP (ML-WTP) model resulting in 834 responses in total, while the second questionnaire applied a double-bounded dichotomous choice method and amassed 713 responses in aggregate. Based on the results of the first questionnaire, pre-existing environmentally friendly behaviour was further enhanced by the introduction of the environmental levy on plastic bags. The second questionnaire revealed that marine conservation is based both on collective as well as individual responsibility. This study provides evidence that the utilization of both economic and non-economic measures may be very effective in considerably reducing plastic bag consumption and its detrimental impact on the marine environment.