The Effect of Environmental Education, Consumer Awareness, and Environmentally Friendly Practices on Plastic Waste Reduction in Indonesia

ABSTRACT


INTRODUCTION
Plastic waste pollution is a global environmental problem that threatens ecosystems, wildlife, and human health.The production of single-use plastic products has outpaced the world's ability to manage them, so plastic waste can be found in all corners of the world [1].Microplastics, which come from various sources, significantly impact marine life, ecosystems, and human health [2].Aquatic environments, including rivers and oceans, play an important role in the transport and storage of plastic waste [3].Contamination of the oceans by plastics is a dangerous challenge, and existing laws and regulations are limited in addressing this issue [4].Plastic waste also affects biodiversity on land, including soil organisms, terrestrial animals, and the breeding of disease vectors [5].
Indonesia, being a densely populated urban area, faces significant challenges in managing its plastic waste [6].The city's lakes in Indonesia, located downstream of major rivers, have been severely polluted by plastic waste, with the most densely populated areas near Jakarta Bay experiencing higher levels of microplastic pollution [7].The smallest particles of microplastics found in the lakes' water could potentially contaminate aquatic biota, including fish, not only in the lakes but also in Jakarta Bay [8].Despite the presence of legal instruments and regulations, plastic waste management in Indonesia, still faces issues of mismanagement and weaknesses in the existing laws and policies [9].To address the issue, a circular economy approach is being adopted in plastic waste management, and collaboration between the public and government is seen as the most feasible and sustainable partnership for effective plastic waste handling in Indonesia [10].
Despite various initiatives aimed at tackling plastic waste pollution, Indonesia continues to grapple with escalating levels of plastic debris.The persistence of this issue underscores the need for multifaceted strategies that consider the complex interplay of socio-economic, behavioral, and environmental factors.One such approach involves exploring the roles of environmental education, consumer awareness, and environmentally friendly practices in mitigating plastic waste in urban settings like Indonesia [8], [9], [11], [12].
The primary objective of this research is to conduct a quantitative analysis to ascertain the impact of environmental

Plastic Waste Pollution in Urban Areas
Urbanization and population growth have led to a surge in plastic consumption, exacerbating plastic waste pollution in urban environments.Urban areas, face unique challenges in managing plastic waste due to inadequate infrastructure, informal waste management systems, and socioeconomic disparities.The accumulation of plastic debris in urban waterways, landfills, and coastal areas poses significant ecological and public health risks, necessitating urgent action to mitigate its impact [6], [13].Plastic waste management in Indonesia is relatively poorly implemented due to the limited number of recyclers, highlighting the need for alternative solutions such as converting plastic waste to paving blocks [14].The regulation of International Law and National Law plays a crucial role in protecting the marine environment and preventing environmental pollution caused by plastic waste [7].To address the issue of plastic pollution, multidisciplinary intervention approaches are being developed, focusing on reducing plastic consumption, improving waste management systems, and promoting the use of eco-friendly materials [15].

Awareness
Environmental education plays an important role in raising awareness about plastic pollution and encouraging sustainable behavior among individuals and communities [16], [17].By providing knowledge about the environmental impacts of plastic waste and promoting environmentally friendly practices, environmental education initiatives can empower citizens to make informed choices and advocate for policy changes [18].However, the effectiveness of environmental education programs depends on factors such as curriculum design, outreach strategies, and community engagement [19].Environmental education works to mobilize people to act for tangible benefits to the environment and humanity [20].It requires experiential connections with the environment, skills learning, and an understanding of the social and cultural relationships between people and the natural environment.Climate change education often focuses on raising awareness and taking action, from monitoring energy consumption to organising community events.
H1: Environmental education initiatives have a significant positive effect on plastic waste reduction in Indonesia.

Behavior
Consumer awareness of plastic pollution is an important factor in influencing purchasing decisions, consumption patterns, and waste management practices [21]- [24].Research has shown that when consumers are more aware of the environmental impact of plastics, coupled with access to information on recycling and alternative products, they are more likely to switch to more sustainable options [25].However, changing entrenched consumption habits and overcoming barriers to behavior change remain significant challenges.Targeted interventions and cross-sectoral collaborative efforts are needed to address these challenges and promote sustainable consumer behavior.By increasing consumer awareness and education, empowering consumers to make more sustainable purchasing decisions, and providing convenient and accessible alternatives, we can drive the transition towards a more sustainable future.
H2: Consumer awareness of plastic pollution has a significant positive effect on plastic waste reduction in Indonesia.

Practices
Adopting environmentally friendly practices, such as reducing plastic usage, recycling, and adopting reusable alternatives, is essential for reducing plastic waste generation.Policies promoting extended producer responsibility, plastic bag bans, and incentives for eco-friendly products can encourage businesses and consumers to embrace sustainable practices.Additionally, community-based initiatives, such as beach clean-ups and waste segregation programs, play a crucial role in promoting environmental stewardship and fostering a culture of sustainability at the grassroots level [25]- [27].

H3:
The adoption of environmentally friendly practices has a significant positive effect on plastic waste reduction in Indonesia.

Waste Reduction
Previous research has investigated various strategies for mitigating plastic waste pollution, including policy interventions, technological innovations, and public awareness campaigns.Studies have highlighted the importance of integrated approaches that address both the supply and demand sides of the plastic waste problem.However, gaps remain in understanding the interactions between environmental education, consumer behavior, and plastic waste reduction in urban contexts like Indonesia.

Gaps in the Literature
While numerous studies have examined aspects of plastic waste pollution, environmental education, consumer behavior, and sustainable practices, limited research specifically focuses on the nexus between these factors in urban settings like Indonesia.Furthermore, existing studies often lack a quantitative analysis of the relationships between environmental education, consumer awareness, and plastic waste reduction.This research aims to address these gaps by conducting a quantitative analysis to elucidate the dynamics shaping plastic waste reduction efforts in Indonesia.

Research Design
This study employs a quantitative research design to investigate the effect of environmental education, consumer awareness, and environmentally friendly practices on plastic waste reduction in Indonesia.A structured survey questionnaire will be administered to a sample of Indonesia residents to collect relevant data.

Sampling
The target population for this study comprises adult Indonesia from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.A stratified random sampling technique will be employed to ensure representation across different demographic groups, including age, gender, education level, and residential area.The sample size will be determined using appropriate statistical methods to ensure adequate statistical power and representativeness.

Data Collection
Data will be collected through a selfadministered survey questionnaire distributed among the selected participants.The questionnaire will include items measuring environmental education, consumer awareness of plastic pollution, adoption of environmentally friendly practices, and perceptions of plastic waste reduction efforts in Indonesia.The survey instrument will be pretested to ensure clarity, validity, and reliability.Data collection will be conducted using both online and offline methods to maximize participation and reach diverse segments of the population.

Data Analysis
Statistical analysis will employ Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression.This robust method suits the study's focus on understanding the impact of environmental education, consumer awareness, and ecofriendly practices on plastic waste reduction in Indonesia.The process includes data screening, preprocessing, reliability, and validity assessment through Cronbach's alpha and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).PLS regression will explore relationships between variables, testing hypotheses on direct and indirect effects, validated by bootstrapping.Goodness-of-fit indices will evaluate the model, with sensitivity analyses for moderating effects.Results will be presented through tables, figures, and narrative descriptions, emphasizing implications for policymakers, stakeholders, and future research [28].The assessment of environmental education reveals a moderate to high level, with a mean score of 3.75 and a standard deviation of 0.85, indicating variability in perceptions among respondents.Similarly, consumer awareness scores average at 3.60, with a notable standard deviation of 0.92, suggesting varying levels of awareness regarding plastic pollution.Respondents exhibit moderate to high engagement in environmentally friendly practices, reflected in a mean score of 3.85 and a standard deviation of 0.78.Regarding perceived plastic waste reduction efforts, the mean score is 3.45, indicating moderate efforts, with perceptions varying among respondents, as evidenced by a standard deviation of 0.87.Overall, while average perceptions lean towards moderate to high levels across all aspects, individual differences highlight the nuanced understanding and varying degrees of engagement and perception within the sample.

Measurement Model
The

Discriminant Validity
Discriminant validity assesses the extent to which each construct in the measurement model is distinct from other constructs.It ensures that the constructs measure different aspects of the phenomenon under study and are not redundant or highly correlated with each other.Discriminant validity is typically evaluated by examining the correlations between constructs and ensuring that they are not excessively high In the provided correlation matrix, diagonal elements represent the square root of the Average Variance Extracted (AVE) for each construct, while off-diagonal elements denote correlations between constructs.To establish discriminant validity, the square root of the AVE for each construct should surpass the correlation coefficients between that construct and all others.For Consumer Awareness, with an AVE square root of approximately 0.798, correlations with Environmental Education, Environmentally Friendly Practices, and Plastic Waste Reduction (0.620, 0.734, 0.555 respectively) are all below 0.798, affirming discriminant validity.
Similarly, Environmental Education, with an AVE square root of around 0.896, exhibits correlations below 0.896 with other constructs (0.620, 0.549, 0.449 for Consumer Awareness, Environmentally Friendly Practices, and Plastic Waste Reduction respectively), supporting discriminant validity.Environmentally Friendly Practices and Plastic Waste Reduction also demonstrate discriminant validity, with correlations below their respective AVE square roots of approximately 0.805 and 0.848.This analysis confirms the distinctiveness of each construct within the study.Similarly, the discrepancy indices d_ULS and d_G yield values of 0.955 and 0.386, respectively, indicating a satisfactory fit.The Chi-Square value of 270.207 for both models is non-significant, supporting reasonable fit.However, the Normed Fit Index (NFI) of 0.676 for both models suggests a moderate fit to the data.Overall, these indices collectively suggest that while the model demonstrates reasonable fit, there may be room for improvement in certain aspects of the structural equation model.The R-Square value of 0.395 indicates that approximately 39.5% of the variance in Plastic Waste Reduction is explained by Environmental Education, Consumer Awareness, and Environmentally Friendly Practices.This suggests a moderate amount of the variance is accounted for by these factors, indicating their substantial influence on plastic waste reduction in Jakarta.However, it also implies that other unaccounted variables may contribute to plastic waste reduction.Similarly, the Q² value of 0.380 reflects the model's moderate predictive power, suggesting its ability to forecast Plastic Waste Reduction in new contexts.Nonetheless, careful interpretation and additional validation techniques are necessary to ensure the robustness and generalizability of the model's predictive capabilities.

Hypothesis
The provided statistics relate to hypothesis testing for the relationships between independent variables (Consumer Awareness, Environmental Education, and Environmentally Friendly Practices) and the dependent variable (Plastic Waste Reduction) within the structural equation model.Hypothesis testing involves evaluating whether the observed relationships between variables are statistically significant.

Discussion
The discussion chapter provides an in-depth analysis and interpretation of the study's findings, contextualizing them within existing literature and theoretical frameworks while addressing their implications and limitations.

Impact of Environmental Education on Plastic Waste Reduction
Environmental education emerged as a significant predictor of plastic waste reduction in Indonesia.The positive relationship between environmental education and plastic waste reduction aligns with prior research emphasizing the role of education in fostering environmental awareness and promoting sustainable behaviors.By providing individuals with knowledge about plastic pollution and waste management strategies, environmental education programs can empower citizens to make informed decisions and adopt environmentally friendly practices.This finding underscores the importance of incorporating environmental education initiatives into public policies and educational curricula to address plastic waste pollution effectively [16], [29].

Influence of Consumer Awareness on Plastic Waste Reduction
Consumer awareness of plastic pollution was found to have a substantial impact on plastic waste reduction efforts in Indonesia.This finding corroborates previous studies highlighting the pivotal role of consumer behavior in shaping waste generation and disposal patterns.Increasing awareness among consumers about the environmental consequences of plastic waste and the importance of waste reduction strategies can lead to changes in consumption patterns, such as reducing single-use plastics and adopting reusable alternatives.Effective communication campaigns and educational outreach programs can play a crucial role in raising consumer awareness and promoting responsible consumption practices, contributing to overall waste reduction goals [12], [25], [30].

Role of Environmentally Friendly Practices in Plastic Waste Reduction
The adoption of environmentally friendly practices emerged as a key determinant of plastic waste reduction in Indonesia.Individuals who engage in behaviors such as recycling, composting, and using reusable products are more likely to contribute to waste reduction efforts and promote a circular economy approach to resource management.Encouraging the adoption of these practices through incentives, infrastructure improvements, and community engagement initiatives can help create a culture of sustainability and reduce reliance on single-use plastics.Additionally, businesses and industries play a vital role in facilitating sustainable practices through product innovation, packaging redesign, and waste management strategies [31], [32].

Implications and Recommendations
The findings of this study have significant implications for policymakers, environmental organizations, and stakeholders involved in plastic waste management in Indonesia.Strategies aimed at promoting environmental education, enhancing consumer awareness, and facilitating the adoption of environmentally friendly practices should be prioritized to address the plastic waste problem effectively.Public policies and regulations, such as bans on single-use plastics, extended producer responsibility schemes, and incentives for sustainable practices, can incentivize behavior change and promote a transition towards a circular economy.Collaboration between government agencies, businesses, civil society organizations, and the public is essential for implementing comprehensive solutions and driving systemic change.

Limitations and Future Research Directions
Despite its contributions, this study has several limitations that warrant consideration.The cross-sectional nature of the data limits the ability to establish causality between variables.Longitudinal studies are needed to assess the long-term effects of environmental education and behavior change interventions on plastic waste reduction.Additionally, future research could explore contextual factors and cultural influences that may shape individuals' attitudes and behaviors toward plastic waste in urban settings like.Furthermore, expanding the scope of the study to include other geographic regions and demographic groups would enhance the generalizability of the findings and provide a more comprehensive understanding of plastic waste management dynamics.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the factors influencing plastic waste reduction in Indonesia.The findings highlight the critical role of environmental education, consumer awareness, and environmentally friendly practices in mitigating plastic waste pollution.By empowering individuals with knowledge about plastic pollution and promoting sustainable behaviors, environmental education programs can foster a culture of environmental responsibility and contribute to waste reduction efforts.Similarly, increasing consumer awareness of plastic pollution and encouraging the adoption of environmentally friendly practices are essential steps towards achieving meaningful reductions in plastic waste.Policymakers, stakeholders, and environmental organizations can use these findings to develop evidence-based strategies and initiatives aimed at addressing the plastic waste problem in Indonesia and similar urban areas.Moving forward, continued research and collaboration are needed to advance our understanding of plastic waste management and promote sustainable practices for a cleaner and healthier environment.

Table 5 .
Model Fit Results Test