Why does frugality influence the recycling intention of waste materials?

Hong Wang; Rubing Bai; Haibo Zhao; Zhichen Hu; Yan Li

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.952010

Why does frugality influence the recycling intention of waste materials?

Front Psychol. 2023 Jan 20:13:952010. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.952010. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Hong Wang¹, Rubing Bai², Haibo Zhao², Zhichen Hu², Yan Li³

Affiliations

¹ School of Economics and Management, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, China.
² School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China.
³ Business School, Shandong University, Weihai, China.

Abstract

Waste recycling significantly impacts the sustainable development of society and the ecological environment, contributing to a vital role within the waste management hierarchy. This paper presents a research model that investigates the influence mechanism of consumers' frugality on their recycling intentions. This study collected 420 valid samples to test the model with regression analysis. The empirical results show that consumers' frugality exerts a direct and positive effect on their recycling intention. Except for the positive direct effect, perceived value mediates the relationship between frugality and recycling intention. Besides, environmental concern strengthens the positive relationship between frugality and recycling intention. The findings of this study can better explain the recycling intention, thereby providing a basis for the government and enterprises to formulate policies and measures to promote recycling behavior.

Keywords: environmental concern; frugality; perceived value; recycling intention; waste recycling.