Intergenerational Differences in the Environmental Concerns: Insights from Chinese Plastic Waste Business Owners

Dan Li
College of Educational Science, Yan’an University, Yan’an, Shaanxi, China

April 19, 2024

Most surveyed populations share concerns about safeguarding the environment [1]. While studies have explored general and specific environmental behaviors [2], little attention has been given to how different generations relate to environmental concerns.

In a recent study published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (Nature Portfolio), Wang and Wu [3] focus on exploring intergenerational disparities of plastic waste business owners in environmental concerns, specifically ecological worldview and concerns of local environmental issues. The research involved 102 plastic waste business owners spanning two generations in Wuzhen Town, China, who took part in a paired-sample survey. By integrating insights from Mindsponge Theory and utilizing the advantages of Bayesian analysis [4,5], the study also delved into the roles of post-materialistic values, environmental knowledge, exposure to environmental risks through new media, and community ties in mediating the links between intergenerational difference and environmental concern.



Illustration. Generated by Imagine AI.

The study’s findings uncovered a multifaceted landscape regarding the connection between generation and environmental concerns. Specifically, the path analyses of maximum likelihood estimation and Bayesian estimation revealed significant intergenerational disparities in ecological worldview but insignificant in concerns of local environmental issues. While non-daily environmental knowledge and environmental risk exposure through new media substantially and positively mediated the relationship between intergenerational difference and ecological worldview, community connection significantly and negatively mediated the relationship between intergenerational difference and local environmental issue concerns [3].

The study suggests that fostering environmental awareness among plastic waste business owners is a pivotal step in addressing the urgent issue of plastic pollution [3]. To boost this awareness, it is essential to provide environmental education, both formally and informally, to businesses and foster stronger connections between them and their communities [6]. Additionally, mass media, especially new media, can play a vital role in shaping general environmental awareness and concerns, especially among younger generations [7].

In the end, the study also advocates a transition from an environmentally detrimental mindset to an environmentally sustainable approach among businesses (e.g., eco-surplus culture) [8,9]. The transition can lead to both environmental and economic advantages at the same time.

References

[1] Pew Research Center. (2020). Concern over climate and the environment predominates among these publics. https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2020/09/29/concern-over-climate-and-the-environment-predominates-among-these-publics/

[2] Gansser OA, Reich CS. (2023). Influence of the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) and environmental concerns on pro-environmental behavioral intention based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Journal of Cleaner Production, 382(5),134629. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652622042019

[3] Wang X, Wu L. (2024). Intergenerational differences in the environmental concerns of plastic waste business owners: environmental knowledge, environmental risk exposure, and community connection as mediators. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11, 500. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-024-03018-0

[4] Vuong QH. (2023). Mindsponge Theory. Walter de Gruyter GmbH. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3WHZ2B3

[5] Vuong QH, Nguyen MH, La VP. (2022). The mindsponge and BMF analytics for innovative thinking in social sciences and humanities. Walter de Gruyter GmbH. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C4ZK3M74/

[6] Giddens A. (1991). The consequences of modernity. Stanford University Press, Stanford. https://books.google.com/books?id=SVmkJEwWGwAC

[7] Fellenor J, et al. (2017). The social amplification of risk on Twitter: the case of ash dieback disease in the United Kingdom. Journal of Risk Research, 21(10),1163–1183. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13669877.2017.1281339

[8] Vuong QH, Nguyen MH. (2024). Kingfisher: contemplating the connection between nature and humans through science, art, literature, and lived experiences. Pacific Conservation Biology, 30(1), PC23044. https://www.publish.csiro.au/PC/PC23044

[9] Vuong QH, Nguyen MH. (2024). Call Vietnam mouse-deer ‘cheo cheo’ and let empathy save them from extinction: a conservation review and call for name change. Pacific Conservation Biology, 30(3), PC23058. https://www.publish.csiro.au/PC/PC23058