Title: Background on the intention to reduce the consumption of bottled water in disposable plastic bottles

Authors: Judith Cavazos-Arroyo; Aurora Máynez-Guaderrama

Addresses: Business School, Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla, 17 sur No. 901, Puebla, Mexico ' Department of Industrial Engineering, Institute of Engineering and Technology of the Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Avenida del Charro Norte No. 610, Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico

Abstract: This study delves into the perception of environmental harm as a trigger for emotions, attitudes, and intentions to reduce the consumption of bottled water in disposable plastic bottles. A quantitative, explanatory, cross-sectional study was conducted among Generation Z. Non-probability convenience sampling was used. PLS and IPMA were used as statistical techniques. The results show that the perception of the ecological problem triggers personal responsibility, guilt, and environmental shame for consuming water in disposable plastic bottles. In addition, personal responsibility and environmental guilt favourably influence the attitude towards reduction, and the latter leads to the intention to reduce consumption. The IPMA revealed that the most important variable for predicting intention to reduce consumption is attitude towards reduction, and it highlights the effect of reducing personal consumption of water bottled in disposable plastic to protect and reduce waste of natural resources and environmental pollution.

Keywords: environmental guilt; environmental shame; personal responsibility; disposable plastic bottles; attitude; intention to reduce consumption.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBE.2026.152819

International Journal of Business Environment, 2026 Vol.17 No.2, pp.191 - 213

Received: 15 Apr 2024
Accepted: 16 Jun 2025
Published online: 13 Apr 2026 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article