Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Towards Sustainable Consumption Among University Students in Penang, Malaysia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24191/bioenv.v3i1.82Keywords:
Sustainable consumption, Environmental Management, Knowledge, Attitude, PracticeAbstract
The study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of sustainable consumption among university students in Penang, Malaysia. Sustainable consumption is one of the crucial goals in Sustainable Development Goals that foster environmentally friendly behaviour in the Malaysian community. mitigating negative impacts of consumption patterns. A quantitative data collection took place over five days by distribution of online questionnaires to a diverse sample of students, evaluating their knowledge of sustainable consumption principles, attitudes towards sustainable lifestyles, and actual consumption practices. The preliminary findings showed a high level of knowledge among university students regarding sustainable consumption principles. However, there were variations in attitudes towards sustainable lifestyles, with some showing moderate commitment while others exhibited a more indifferent approach. A gap between knowledge and practice was identified, indicating disconnection between students' comprehension regarding sustainable consumption and their implementation of sustainable behaviours. Influential factors, such as personal values, perceived barriers, social norms, and awareness of sustainable alternatives, shaped students' knowledge, attitude, and practice towards sustainable consumption. The role of educational institutions, peers, and media in promoting sustainable consumption was also found to be significant.
References
Adham, K., Siwar, C., & Bhuiyan, M. (2015). An overview of Malaysian government initiatives on sustainable consumption and production practices. OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development, 8(06), 23-32. https://doi.org/https://ssrn.com/abstract=2638712
Andrade, C., Menon, V., Ameen, S., & Kumar Praharaj, S. (2020). Designing and conducting knowledge, attitude, and practice surveys in psychiatry: Practical guidance. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 42(5), 478-481. https://doi.org/10.1177/0253717620946111
Ateş, H. (2020). Merging Theory of Planned Behavior and Value Identity Personal norm model to explain pro-environmental behaviors. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 24, 169-180. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2020.07.006
Augustine, E.E., & Mohd Hanafiah, M. (2019). Awareness level of water resource conservation of university students. Water Conservation and Management (WCM), 3(2), 18-21. https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zib:zbnwcm:v:3:y:2019:i:2:p:18-21
Boulay, A., Robinson, G.M., Barr, S., Shaw, G., & Metcalfe, A. (2020). Exploring household dynamics for recycling in the United Kingdom: A case study of recycling habits in greater London. In Tudor, T., & Dutra, C.J.C. (Eds) The Routledge Handbook of Waste, Resources and the Circular Economy, Routledge. pp. 273-286.
Cao Minh, T., & Nguyen Thi Quynh, N. (2024). Factors affecting sustainable consumption behavior: Roles of pandemics and perceived consumer effectiveness. Cleaner and Responsible Consumption, 12, 100158. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clrc.2023.100158
Cernicova-Buca, M., Dragomir, G.-M., Gherheș, V., & Palea, A. (2023). Students’ awareness regarding environment protection in campus life: Evidence from Romania. Sustainability, 15(23), 16444. https://doi.org/10.3390/su152316444
Chen, X. H., Tee, K., Elnahass, M., & Ahmed, R. (2023). Assessing the environmental impacts of renewable energy sources: A case study on air pollution and carbon emissions in China. Journal of Environmental Management, 345, 118525. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118525
Coelho, P. M., Corona, B., ten Klooster, R., & Worrell, E. (2020). Sustainability of reusable packaging–Current situation and trends. Resources, Conservation & Recycling: X, 6, 100037. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcrx.2020.100037
Corbos, R.-A., Bunea, O.-I., & Jiroveanu, D.-C. (2023). The effects of the energy crisis on the energy-saving behavior of young people. Energy Strategy Reviews, 49, 101184. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2023.101184
de Oliveira, U.R., Gomes, T.S., de Oliveira, G.G., de Abreu, J.C., Oliveira, M.A., da Silva César, A., & Aprigliano
Fernandes, V. (2022). Systematic literature review on sustainable consumption from the perspective of companies, people and public policies. Sustainability, 14(21), 13771. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142113771
Falcão, D., & Roseira, C. (2022). Mapping the socially responsible consumption gap research: Review and future research agenda. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 46(5), 1718-1760. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12803
Fu, L., Zhang, Y., & Bai, Y. (2017). Pro-environmental awareness and behaviors on campus: Evidence from Tianjin, China. EURASIA Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 14(1), 427-445. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.12973/ejmste/77953
Ghosn, F., Zreik, M., Awad, G., & Karouni, G. (2024). Energy transition and sustainable development in Malaysia: Steering towards a greener future. International Journal of Renewable Energy Development, 2024, 13(3), 362-374. https://doi.org/10.61435/ijred.2024.60110
Glavič, P. (2021). Evolution and current challenges of sustainable consumption and production. Sustainability, 13(16), 9379. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169379
Haider, M., Shannon, R., & Moschis, G. P. (2022). Sustainable consumption research and the role of marketing: A review of the literature (1976–2021). Sustainability, 14(7), 3999. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14073999
Hast, A., Vand, B., & Syri, S. (2015). Consumer attitudes towards renewable energy in China—The case of Shanghai. Sustainable Cities and Society, 17, 69-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2015.04.003
Jambeck, J. R., Geyer, R., Wilcox, C., Siegler, T.R., Perryman, M., Andrady, A., Narayan, R., & Law, K.L. (2015). Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean. Science, 347(6223), 768-771. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1260352
Jusoh, S., Kamarudin, M.K.A., Wahab, N., Saad, M.H.M., Rohizat, N. H., & Mat, N.H.N. (2018). Environmental awareness level among university students in Malaysia: A review. International Journal of Engineering & Technology, 7(4.34), 28-32. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i4.34.23575
Kadic-Maglajlic, S., Arslanagic-Kalajdzic, M., Micevski, M., Dlacic, J., & Zabkar, V. (2019). Being engaged is a good thing: Understanding sustainable consumption behavior among young adults. Journal of Business Research, 104, 644-654. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.02.040
Kastner, I., & Matthies, E. (2014). Motivation and impact: implications of a twofold perspective on sustainable consumption for intervention programs and evaluation designs [Report]. GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society, 23, 175+. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A403302008/AONE?u=anon~49e34d89&sid=googleScholar&xid=90075bfa
Khairil, M., Jeganathan, C., Razman, M., Zakaria, S., & Arifin, K. (2018). The Communication on enforcement of open burning cases in Malaysia. International Journal on Information, 21(5), 549-1553
Koh, J., Johari, S., Shuib, A., Siow, M.L., & Matthew, N.K. (2023). Malaysia’s forest pledges and The Bornean State of Sarawak: A Policy perspective. Sustainability, 15(2), 1385. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021385
Kollmus, A., & Agyeman, J. (2002). Mind the gap: Why do people act environmentally and what are the barriers to proenvironmental behaviour? Environmental Education Research, 8, 239-260.
Launiala, A. (2009). How much can a KAP survey tell us about people's knowledge, attitudes and practices? Some observations from medical anthropology research on malaria in pregnancy in Malawi. Anthropology Matters, 11(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.22582/am.v11i1.31
Lee, H.L., Lee, V. S., Md Akil, M.A.M., Mohammed Akib, N.A., Gew, L.T., Lim, T.H., Othman, R., Su’ait, M.S., Tang, W.K., Yeoh, Y.S., & Chee, S.Y. (2025). Malaysia’s progress in achieving the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) through the lens of chemistry. Pure and Applied Chemistry, 97(1), 91-119. https://doi.org/doi:10.1515/pac-2024-0233 ()
Li, Y., Yang, D., & Liu, S. (2024). The impact of environmental education at Chinese Universities on college students' environmental attitudes. PLOS ONE, 19(2), e0299231. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0299231
Liang, G. (2024). Factors Affecting green purchase behaviour and future marketing strategy. American Journal of Industrial and Business Management, 14(2), 194-213. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.4236/ajibm.2024.142010
Moh, Y.C., & Manaf, L. (2013). Overview of household solid waste recycling policy status and challenges in Malaysia. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 82, 50–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2013.11.004
Oswald Spring, Ú. (2020). The Nexus among Water, soil, food, biodiversity and energy security. In Oswald Spring, U. (Ed) Earth at Risk in the 21st Century: Rethinking Peace, Environment, Gender, and Human, Water, Health, Food, Energy Security, and Migration, Springer, Cham, Switzerland. pp. 543-578. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38569-9_20
Quoquab, F., & Mohammad, J. (2020). A review of sustainable consumption (2000 to 2020): What we know and what we need to know. Journal of Global Marketing, 33(5), 305-334. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/08911762.2020.1811441
Schultz, P. W., Oskamp, S., & Mainieri, T. (1995). Who recycles and when? A review of personal and situational factors. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 15, 105-121.
Sitotaw, B., & Philipos, W. (2023). Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) on Antibiotic use and disposal ways in sidama region, ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional survey. The Scientific World Journal, 2023(1), 8774634. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/8774634
Tiong, C.S., Lean, Q.Y., Ming, L.C., Abdullah, A.H.B., Mahalingam, S.R., Arshad, K., & Hock, L.S. (2021). Knowledge, perceptions of risks, attitudes and practices of environmental health among university students in northern Malaysia. International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, 59(1), 23-34. https://doi.org/10.1080/14635240.2019.1708776
van Oosterhout, L., Dijkstra, H., Borst, D., Duijndam, S., Rehdanz, K., & van Beukering, P. (2023). Triggering sustainable plastics consumption behavior: Identifying consumer profiles across Europe and designing strategies to engage them. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 36, 148-160. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2022.12.023
Wang, K., & Zhang, L. (2021). The Impact of ecological civilization theory on university students’ pro-environmental behavior: An application of knowledge-attitude-practice theoretical model. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 681409. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.681409
Wang, X., Waris, I., Bhutto, M. Y., Sun, H., & Hameed, I. (2022). Green initiatives and environmental concern foster environmental sustainability: A study based on the use of reusable drink cups. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(15), 9259. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159259
Xu, S., Chu, C., Zhang, Y., Ye, D., Wang, Y., & Ju, M. (2018). Entangled stakeholder roles and perceptions of sustainable consumption: An evaluation of sustainable consumption practices in Tianjin, China. Journal of Environmental Management, 223, 841-848. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.07.007
Yu, P. L., Ab Ghafar, N., Adam, M., & Goh, H.C. (2022). Understanding the human dimensions of recycling and source separation practices at the household level: An evidence in Perak, Malaysia. Sustainability, 14(13), 8023. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14138023
Zakaria, S., Basri, S., Kamarudin, S.K., & Majid, N. (2019). Public awareness analysis on renewable energy in Malaysia. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 268, 012105. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/268/1/012105
Zarei, F., Dehghani, A., Ratansiri, A., Ghaffari, M., Raina, S.K., Halimi, A., Rakhshanderou, S., Isamel, S.A., Amiri, P., Aminafshar, A., & Mosavi Jarrahi, A. (2024). ChecKAP: A Checklist for Reporting a Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) Study. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 25(7), 2573-2577. https://doi.org/10.31557/apjcp.2024.25.7.2573
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Nur Ainul Shuhada Mokhtar, Nur Qamarina Ain Kamarul Zaman, Nurul Amira Shafira Zawawi, Wan Amyzatul Aida Salehfuddin, Alia Qistina Zakaria, Nurul Syifa Aqila Ali, Murni Amirra Mohd Aminuddin, Siti Nurshahida Nazli, Nurhidayah Sabri, Tengku Nilam Baizura Tengku Ibrahim
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
