Impact of Socioeconomic Factors of Plastic Bans on Consumer Behaviour in the Food Industry

Abstract

As concerns about plastic pollution continue to rise, governments and regulatory agencies worldwide have begun enforcing stricter limits on single-use plastics. Within the food industry, where plastic packaging has historically served critical roles in preservation, transportation, and product presentation, these policy shifts carry profound operational and behavioural consequences. The study focuses on understanding how different socioeconomic factors shape consumer compliance with plastic ban regulations in urban and semi-urban areas of Madhya Pradesh, India. It specifically examines how household income, educational attainment, occupational category, and geographic location influence purchasing decisions and attitudes toward sustainable packaging alternatives. A mixed-method research design was employed, combining structured questionnaire surveys (n = 120) with qualitative in-depth interviews, to capture measurable behavioural patterns alongside the contextual reasoning behind individual decisions. Prior to full deployment, the instrument underwent a pilot test with twenty respondents, and internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's Alpha (α = 0.81), confirming satisfactory reliability. Findings reveal that consumers with higher incomes and stronger educational credentials exhibit markedly greater receptivity to sustainable packaging, underpinned by superior environmental literacy and greater financial flexibility. Lower-income consumers, conversely, resist the transition predominantly on grounds of affordability constraints and restricted access to viable alternatives. Chi-square hypothesis tests confirm all five study hypotheses at p < 0.05. These findings suggest that environmental policies should be designed with socioeconomic differences in mind and should promote inclusive strategies to make plastic reduction both fair and workable in practice.