An Investigation of Cosumer Attitudes Towards New Varieties of Shopping Bags: Exploring Eco-Awareness and the Possibility of Behavior Change

The adverse impact of plastic bags on the environment has received significant worldwide attention. Bangladesh was the first country to ban plastic bags in 2002 from its capital city, Dhaka to reduce environmental damage. This paper investigates the consequences of the ban and the subsequent emergence of several new varieties of shopping bags in Dhaka city. Attitude towards the new varieties of shopping bags were determined through qualitative methods like in-depth interviews and field studies. Finally, a questionnaire survey was conducted on 288 female heads of households. Results indicate that 98% of respondents mistakenly believe these new bags to be eco-friendly or biodegradable. The level of awareness did not vary by demographic characteristics like age, income or occupation, suggesting that this is a common phenomenon across different segments of the society. A correlation was found between an awareness of the issues and the willingness to bring about behavioral changes.