Evaluation of Ecological Factors Regarding the Use of Disposable Containers

Excessive consumption of disposable containers, and specifically the plastic ones, has adverse effects on ecosystem and the community's health. To identify ecological factors (individual, interpersonal and social) related to these containers, this study aimed to specify the most important factors according to the participants.

This was a qualitative content analysis  conducted through interviews with participants in different age and gender groups in Khomeini Shahr, Esfahan, in 2021, and continued until data saturation with 37 participants was reached. Data analysis was performed by qualitative content analysis method, based on the steps suggested by Elo in MAXQDA20 software.

The results demonstrated that the factors affecting the use of disposable containers were divided into two main categories of individual factors including four subcategories: preferences and priorities, personal beliefs, information and knowledge, fear and negative emotions. The interpersonal and social factors included nine subcategories: force of using, conflict between economic advantages and health, features and efficiency, putting foodstuff in disposable containers, hygiene elements related to health, factors related to families, social norms, the effect of advertisements, and increasing places using disposable containers.

The results of this study indicated that comfort of use, being light and unbreakabl, ease of transportation, welfare and observing hygiene issues increased the use of containers, but paying attention to the health issues and effective educational sessions on the proper consumption of these disposable containers, can decrease the use of these containers.